Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has rarely spoken about the gay community in recent years, however, new recordings revealed this morning by Israeli news broadcaster “Kan” show that he actually does not believe that his attitudes toward the LGBTQ community hurt him politically.
In a recorded conversation about getting the support of the head of Jerusalem's famous Mahane Yehuda market, which took place a few months ago between him and an anonymous acquaintance, Smotrich said that even if he actively works against LGBT people, which he emphasized he is not planning to do, it would not alienate voters from him.
Full report herehttps://t.co/6blGNhIPex
— Josh Feldman (@joshrfeldman) January 16, 2023
"Do you think a traditional Sephardic cares about gays?" Smotrich rhetorically asked. "He couldn’t care less. His response would be 'I don't have a problem with them', do you think it interests him that I am against them?". Smotrich claims in the conversation that anti-LGBT actions are not of interest to his electorate, specifically mentioning people of Mizrahi (eastern, Arab country) origin and the head of the committee of the Mahane Yehuda market.
"He [the voter] knows that I am like that [anti-LGBT], and he still comes to me," said Smotrich. "My views on LGBT does not interest him. I protect the Land of Israel, I'm the only one who didn't agree to sit with [Arab party] Ra'am and kept his promise and I protect the Jewish identity for their future grandchildren. That's what he needs. I need people like that, okay? The head of the committee of Mahane Yehuda. They're all with me. I need them with me, I need pictures with them, I need... you know. I need them with me."
Netanyahu Govt Minister of Finance Smotrich, recorded saying: "I am a fascist homophobe, but I gave my word. My voter has no interest in LGBT, I am the only one who protects the Land of Israel"
— ישראל פריי (@freyisrael1) January 16, 2023
In the past he has said Israel to operate "according to Torah law"#Israelfascism pic.twitter.com/GDjdQXwSJK
At the end of the recording, Smotrich is heard drawing the boundaries, assuring that he has no intention of actually acting upon his anti-LGBT sentiment. "I will not harm gays and they will not feed me shrimp," which is prohibited according to Kosher dietary laws yet extremely common to find in secularist Tel-Aviv restaurants. The comment in Hebrew is taken as a colloquialism that means 'live and let live'. It should be noted that Smotrich’s opinion on the LGBTQ community, specifically his past outspoken comments on it, have remained controversial even within his own religious Zionist base.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights responded to the Religious Zionist leader by saying: "The Smotrich tapes remind us time and time again how weak Netanyahu is and how dangerous it is that he is held captive by racist extremists. This is not a question of left and right, it is not a question of Likud or Yesh Atid. This has become a bigger question- The Love for people or hatred of them."
The Smotrich tapes remind us again how weak Netanyahu is and how dangerous it is that he is held captive by racist extremists. This is not a question of right and left, it is not a question of Likud or Yesh Atid. It became a bigger question: love a person or hate a person. https://t.co/DAmeN1VdO2
— Michael Dean. (@Okavangomick) January 16, 2023
Smotrich's views on the LGBT community are rooted in his religious beliefs, however, he has vowed to uphold the secular nature of Israel, acknowledging most Israelis are not observant and imposing religious law on the society would tear the nation apart. The current setup of Israel is such that municipalities decide for themselves the level of observance. There are entire villages, even cities that identify as religious and enforce laws like banning cars from driving and businesses from opening on the Sabbath.
