Full Breakdown
Finance Minister Smotrich’s “Ra’am vs October 7” Comparison Ignites Political Clash
5/5/2026, 8:23:53 PM
The Controversial Comparison
During a Radio 103 FM interview, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) asserted that forming a government with the United Arab List’s leader Mansour Abbas would be “far worse” than the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 massacre. He framed the attack as a “terrible and awful failure, but it is a tactical failure,” and argued that “someone who knowingly sold the State of Israel to its enemies … did something a thousand times worse than the worst failure, because it is not just a mistake, it is deliberate.” Smotrich later posted on X that the interview question asked which *political act* was more severe, insisting his remarks had been “distorted.”
Political Context: 2021 Bennett Government and Ra’am
In 2021 former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett assembled a coalition that, for the first time, included the Islamist Ra’am party. The arrangement sparked fierce debate within the right-wing bloc; Smotrich opposed the inclusion and later claimed he blocked a similar attempt by Benjamin Netanyahu to partner with Ra’am after the 2023 war. Bennett’s coalition survived for a year before collapsing, and the issue resurfaced as parties vie for power ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections.
Key Figures and Parties
- Bezalel Smotrich – Finance Minister, Religious Zionist Party.
- Mansour Abbas – Chairman, United Arab List (Ra’am).
- Naftali Bennett – Former Prime Minister, former coalition partner of Ra’am.
- Benjamin Netanyahu – Current Prime Minister, reportedly sought Ra’am’s participation.
- Gadi Eisenkot – Leader, Yashar! Party (opposition).
- Yair Golan – Leader, The Democrats (opposition).
- Ayman Odeh – Chairman, Hadash-Ta’al (Arab-majority party).
Official Statements & Responses
Smotrich’s X clarification reiterated that the “worse political act” was “knowingly joining a government with Hamas … out of a lust for honor and power.” Abbas responded on X that Smotrich “has no respect for the 2,100 murdered individuals and their families,” calling the comment “miserable and immoral.” Bennett issued a video message labeling anyone who calls the massacre a “tactical failure” as a “massacre denier,” and described the October 7 horrors in graphic detail. The Justice Ministry’s 2022 decision to dissolve the “Aid 48” nonprofit linked to Ra’am was cited, though the party itself was not charged with wrongdoing. Ra’am’s platform emphasizes coexistence and adherence to Israeli law, distancing itself from the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement’s historical ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition leaders condemned Smotrich’s remarks as a politicized exploitation of the tragedy. Eisenkot accused him of using the massacre “as a tool in a shameless campaign,” while Golan argued that “as far as he is concerned, a massacre of Israelis is better than a government that doesn’t include him.” Bennett warned that labeling the attack a “tactical failure” places Smotrich among “Israel-haters and massacre deniers.” Odeh and other Arab-Israeli politicians pledged to block any future Smotrich-Netanyahu-Ben Gvir coalition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The October 7 massacre is a terrible and awful failure, but it is a tactical failure.” — Bezalel Smotrich
- “Someone who knowingly sold the State of Israel to its enemies and to the Islamic Movement did something a thousand times worse than the worst failure, because it is not just a mistake, it is deliberate.” — Bezalel Smotrich
- “Smotrich has no respect for the 2,100 murdered individuals and their families,” — Mansour Abbas
- “The biggest failure in our history is an indelible stain that will never be removed from the October 7 cabinet.” — Gadi Eisenkot
- “a massacre of Israelis is better than a government that doesn’t include him.” — Yair Golan
- “Anyone who calls the October 7 massacre a ‘tactical failure’ is adding himself to the list of Israel-haters and massacre deniers,” — Naftali Bennett
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact interview prompt: Smotrich claims he was asked which *political act* was more severe, while the recorded exchange shows the interviewer asked “what is worse?” The casualty figures also vary: some reports cite 1,200 killed and 251 hostages, others aggregate “2,100 murdered” including later war deaths. Additionally, while Smotrich asserts Netanyahu attempted a Ra’am coalition, other accounts emphasize Bennett’s initiative and Smotrich’s veto.
What’s Next
With national elections looming, Smotrich maintains that the forthcoming government must answer both the October 7 disaster and the “immense achievements” of the war. Opposition parties have pledged to replace the current leadership, citing accountability for the massacre and for statements they deem to devalue Israeli lives. The debate over Arab participation in future coalitions is expected to remain a decisive electoral issue.
