Bezalel Smotrich

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday said Israel would abolish its free trade agreement with Turkey and also impose a 100% tariff on other imports from Turkey in retaliation for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's decision to halt exports to Israel.

The plan, he said, would be submitted to the cabinet for approval.

Israel's recent approval of plans to construct 3,500 housing units in the occupied West Bank has ignited international criticism, with a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemning the move as alarming.

Egypt's foreign ministry on Monday condemned as "disgraceful" and "irresponsible" comments by Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who claimed Cairo has "considerable responsibility" for Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.

The statements call on Palestinians to leave Gaza.
"I am very disturbed by the statements of senior Israeli officials about plans to transfer civilians from Gaza to third countries," Trk wrote on the social media platform "X".

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed an order to lift customs tax on imported milk for three months to deal with a milk shortage, the Israeli Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

This is expected to lead to sales of Greek milk to the country.