Smotrich Says He Considered Resigning After October 7 But Found No Personal Wrongdoing

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told the Geekonomy podcast he briefly considered resigning roughly two months after the October 7 massacre but, after reviewing his actions, could not identify any personal wrongdoing.

"I thought about it," Smotrich said, clarifying that the reflection did not happen immediately after the attacks but later, once the initial emergency response subsided. "In the first month and a half or two months, you work like a robot, on autopilot, truly 24/7, managing the war, managing the economy, legislation, and regulations," he said. Only after entering a steadier emergency routine, he added, did he have time to reflect.

Smotrich acknowledged the scale of the violence, saying he understood that "the most horrific massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust happened on my watch," but reiterated that his personal review of events did not reveal a clear failure on his part. "When I tried to think about what I had done wrong, I could not find anything," he said.

Background And Past Activism

The minister also recounted his long-standing political positions and past confrontations with state institutions. He said he has opposed the Oslo Accords and the evacuation of Gush Katif, and described moments of personal consequence for his activism: being beaten in school for opposing Oslo and spending three weeks in Shin Bet detention, including solitary confinement in Wing 7 at a closed prison in Ashkelon. He said the Shin Bet detained him on suspicion of jointly organizing roadblocks.

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich at the primary count, Jerusalem, July 26, 2026. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Smotrich added a sardonic comment about recognition for civil disobedience: "Today, I should have received a certificate of appreciation from Gali Baharav Miara for the principle that there is no effective protest without disrupting public order."

Criticism And Reactions

His remarks prompted sharp criticism. The October Council condemned Smotrich's framing of responsibility for the massacre, arguing that while he is "fine," families who trusted leaders had been killed on his watch and accusing him of evading accountability. The council pointed to roughly 2,200 murdered victims and fallen soldiers in its rebuke.

Smotrich has also faced criticism for previous statements about the return of hostages. Last month on another podcast he said that "thanks to him" all hostages had been returned and suggested that firmer pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have shortened negotiations with Hamas. Observers noted a contradiction: Smotrich himself voted twice against a deal to return hostages, and critics say some captives were later killed in captivity.

Former hostage Or Levy responded directly on social media, accusing Smotrich of treating hostages as "collateral damage," and calling him "a disgrace as a minister, a disgrace as a citizen, and a disgrace as a human being." Ziv Abud, partner of former hostage Eliya Cohen, described Smotrich's remarks as "simply insane."

What This Means

Smotrich's comments underline the deep political and moral debate in Israel over responsibility for the October 7 attacks and the conduct of leaders during the crisis. His refusal to identify personal failings contrasts with family members' demands for accountability, ensuring the issue remains a contentious and widely covered topic.