Bezalel Smotrich
| Bezalel Smotrich | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date of birth | 27 February 1980 |
| Place of birth | Golan Heights |
| Knessets | 20 |
| Faction represented in Knesset | |
| 2015– | Jewish Home |
Betzalel Yoel Smotrich (Hebrew: בצלאל יואל סמוטריץ', born 27 February 1980) is an Israeli politician. A member of Tkuma, he currently serves as a member of the Knesset for the Jewish Home.[1]
Biography
Smotrich was born in the Golan Heights and grew up in the Beit El settlement in the West Bank. His father was a rabbi and Smotrich received a religious education, attending Mercaz HaRav Kook, Yashlatz and Yeshivat Kedumim. He studied law at university.
He was arrested during protests against the disengagement plan in 2005, and was held in jail for three weeks but not charged.[2] In 2006 he helped organise the "Beast Parade" as part protests against a gay pride parade in Jerusalem, although he later admitted regret at the incident.[3]
In the buildup to the 2015 Knesset elections he won second place on the Tkuma list after party leader Uri Ariel.[2] The party contested the elections as part of the Jewish Home, with Smotrich placed eighth on its list for the elections.[4] He was elected to the Knesset as the party won eight seats.[5]
Smotrich is married with five children, and lives in the Kedumim settlement.
References
- ↑ Meet Israel's new lawmakers, Ynetnews, 20 March 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jewish Home faction Tekumah selects Knesset candidates Times of Israel, 12 January 2015
- ↑ Jewish Home hopeful boasts of being ‘proud homophobe’ Times of Israel, 24 February 2015
- ↑ The Jewish Home list Central Elections Committee
- ↑ Final Unofficial* results of the Elections for the Twentieth Knesset Central Elections Committee
External links
- Bezalel Smotrich on the Knesset website
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