Bezalel Smotrich says he considered resigning after Oct . 7 , asserts he got hostages home

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated in a podcast interview that he considered resigning after the October 7 attacks but found no fault in his own conduct, attributing the return of hostages to his influence on Prime Minister Netanyahu. Critics, including former hostage Or Levy and the October Council, condemned Smotrich's remarks, highlighting that he voted against hostage release deals and that hostages died in captivity.