Sa’ar ‘takes note’ after WJC president asks why PM doesn’t stop Smotrich’s damaging comments

At the World Jewish Congress conference in Jerusalem, the body’s president, Ronald Lauder, asks Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar why his government doesn’t understand the damage done by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose statements are translated and quoted around the world.

“Let me tell you, all the good things that Israel is doing are being destroyed by Smotrich. Because his statements about starving the people and destroying [Gaza] were played all over the world, and the prime minister has the chance to stop him from saying these things, and he will not do it. The question is, why not?”

Sa’ar responds to Lauder: “President, I took note of what you said.”

Many people in the crowd, coming with Jewish delegations from around the world, applaud Lauder’s questions.

In recent weeks, Smotrich has been widely quoted when saying “Gaza will be totally destroyed” as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries,” raising fears of international law violations.