Hadeel Al-Shalchi

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was once a wanted man by Israel's version of the FBI. In 2005, Israel was rocked by mass protests. Israeli settlers were demonstrating against the removal of Jewish settlements from Gaza. At the time, Dvir Kariv was an agent with Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was once a wanted man by Israel's version of the FBI. In 2005, Israel was rocked by mass protests. Israeli settlers were demonstrating against the removal of Jewish settlements from Gaza. At the time, Dvir Kariv was an agent with Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was once a wanted man by Israel's version of the FBI. In 2005, Israel was rocked by mass protests. Israeli settlers were demonstrating against the removal of Jewish settlements from Gaza. At the time, Dvir Kariv was an agent with Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet.

Kariv says late on July 11, 2005, they raided a home in central Israel.

Kariv says late on July 11, 2005, they raided a home in central Israel.

Kariv says late on July 11, 2005, they raided a home in central Israel.

He says, in the basement, we found several jerrycans filled with a lot of oil and fuel.

He says, in the basement, we found several jerrycans filled with a lot of oil and fuel.

He says, in the basement, we found several jerrycans filled with a lot of oil and fuel.

They arrested five people there. One of them was a student called Bezalel Smotrich. Kariv says the men were interrogated for three and a half weeks. From the Shin Bet's perspective, we successfully thwarted what Bezalel Smotrich and his group had planned, Kariv says.

They arrested five people there. One of them was a student called Bezalel Smotrich. Kariv says the men were interrogated for three and a half weeks. From the Shin Bet's perspective, we successfully thwarted what Bezalel Smotrich and his group had planned, Kariv says.

They arrested five people there. One of them was a student called Bezalel Smotrich. Kariv says the men were interrogated for three and a half weeks. From the Shin Bet's perspective, we successfully thwarted what Bezalel Smotrich and his group had planned, Kariv says.

While he says he can't divulge what that was, Israeli media has reported that Smotrich and his group were planning to blow up a major Israeli highway. Smoltrich remained completely silent during his interrogations and was released without charge. He did not give away his secrets, but later as a politician, he spoke a lot about what drives his political motivations.

While he says he can't divulge what that was, Israeli media has reported that Smotrich and his group were planning to blow up a major Israeli highway. Smoltrich remained completely silent during his interrogations and was released without charge. He did not give away his secrets, but later as a politician, he spoke a lot about what drives his political motivations.

While he says he can't divulge what that was, Israeli media has reported that Smotrich and his group were planning to blow up a major Israeli highway. Smoltrich remained completely silent during his interrogations and was released without charge. He did not give away his secrets, but later as a politician, he spoke a lot about what drives his political motivations.

My long-term desire is for the state of Israel to be governed according to the Torah, or Jewish holy scripture, he once told Israeli radio. Smotrich is an ultra-nationalist religious Zionist, a type of Judaism that branched out from the secular Zionist movement that founded Israel. While many ultra-religious Jews historically rejected the Zionist movement, a minority accepted it.

My long-term desire is for the state of Israel to be governed according to the Torah, or Jewish holy scripture, he once told Israeli radio. Smotrich is an ultra-nationalist religious Zionist, a type of Judaism that branched out from the secular Zionist movement that founded Israel. While many ultra-religious Jews historically rejected the Zionist movement, a minority accepted it.

My long-term desire is for the state of Israel to be governed according to the Torah, or Jewish holy scripture, he once told Israeli radio. Smotrich is an ultra-nationalist religious Zionist, a type of Judaism that branched out from the secular Zionist movement that founded Israel. While many ultra-religious Jews historically rejected the Zionist movement, a minority accepted it.

Many of them embraced the settlement movement after Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the War of 1967. Tomer Persico is a scholar of Jewish extremism.

Many of them embraced the settlement movement after Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the War of 1967. Tomer Persico is a scholar of Jewish extremism.