From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 18, 2026
Smotrich berated in Knesset by brother of slain hostage: ‘Shame on you’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich fails to recognize Danny Elgart, whose brother, Itzik Elgarat, was abducted during the Hamas-led October 7,2023 attacks and later murdered in captivity, during a Knesset Constitution Committee debate on the controversial bill to split the role of the attorney general.
“There is no other country in the world that abandons its hostages,” says Elgarat, directly addressing the finance minister, who is seated next to him.
In response, Smotrich asks Elgarat who he is, prompting outrage from lawmakers and Elgarat himself, who replies: “My brother was murdered because of you, and you don’t know who I am? Shame on you.”
Even after Elgart identifies himself, Smotrich barely acknowledges him or turns in his direction, instead continuing to shout at opposition lawmakers during the heated exchange.
Smotrich vocally opposed hostage deals and on multiple occasions threatened to quit the government over proposed agreements.
Itzik was one of 38 hostages abducted alive on October 7 and killed in captivity after October 8, 2023, according to the IDF.
Elgarat emerged as a prominent advocate for the hostages and a vocal critic of the government following his brother’s abduction, and in January, he announced that he had joined Yair Golan’s left-wing Democrats and would run in its primary.
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