Smotrich: "I Thought About Resigning After October 7 — I Found No Fault in Myself"
The Minister of Finance told the "Geekonomy" podcast that he examined his responsibility following the massacre, but concluded that he had spent years opposing the "concept" • "If I have any responsibility, it is that I did not flip the table."
Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich was a guest on the "Geekonomy" podcast hosted by Ra'am Sherman. He addressed, among other things, his responsibility following the October 7 attack, thoughts about resigning from his position, the criticism he voiced over the years against the concept of deterrence against Hamas, and the conclusions he reached after the outbreak of the war.
In response to Sherman's question as to whether he thought about resigning after October 7, the Minister of Finance replied:
"I thought about resigning, not really right after October 7, but a bit later at a later stage when I tried to think where I was wrong and I didn't find [anything]."
He explained:
"That is to say, you know, I said that in the first month and a half or two months you work like an automatic robot, really 24/7, both in managing the war, in managing the economy, in legislation, in regulations... After a month and a half or two months, for a second you enter some kind of emergency routine and then there is a moment to think, a stomach ache begins."
Smotrich continued: "You say 'Wow, this happened on my watch.' The most terrible massacre that has happened to the Jewish people since the Holocaust happened on my watch, and I am trying to think where I am wrong. After all, I opposed Oslo, I got beaten up at the end of eighth grade when I opposed Oslo. I opposed the expulsion from Gush Katif, I sat for three weeks in Shin Bet detention in a solitary cell together with 70 terrorists in Wing 7 of Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.
I was suspected of complicity in organizing road blocks — today I should have received a certificate of appreciation from Gali Baharav-Miara for the fact that 'there is nothing right and effective without disturbing the public order.' I cried out bitterly.
On the eve of the war, I was among those, together with Orit Struk in the cabinet, who cried out against the concept that Hamas is deterred. In 2017, I wrote that we need to conquer Gaza, I wrote that I am sure it will happen and I very much hope that the people of Israel will not pay a very heavy price for the slap in the face we will receive upon sobering up."
Smotrich added:
"And I tried to ask where I am, what my responsibility is. And by the way, precisely when I really didn't find [it], because I am really one of those who cried out bitterly against the concept throughout all the years including in the last months... You know, I once said that if I have any responsibility, it is that I did not flip the table."
