Anti-Arabism in Israel

The Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, welcomed the Labor Court’s decision to end the strike, stating on social media that the court agreed with him that the strike was “political and illegal.” According to Israeli media, Smotrich was responsible for filing an injunction against the strike in court.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his finance minister have rescinded their intention to impose a full embargo on imports from Türkiye, including those destined for the Palestinian Authority, according to an Israeli newspaper.

A far-right Israeli minister drew condemnation from Türkiye and the global community on Tuesday by praying with thousands of Jews at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem, defying a ban on Jewish prayer at the flashpoint site.

The storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by hundreds of radical Israelis, including ministers, will "further escalate tensions" in the region, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The European Union's top diplomat has said the bloc should consider sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for comments he said constitute "incitement to war crimes."

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.

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.