Far-Right Israeli Minister Visits Washington After Years of Being Shunned

Under the Biden administration, Israel’s far-right finance minister was the rare Israeli official whom the United States rebuked by name for his views, like his opposition to a cease-fire in Gaza.

Under the Trump administration, he is a welcome guest in Washington, where top U.S. officials are now aligning with some of his beliefs about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The minister, Bezalel Smotrich, met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday, remarking in a statement about his embrace after years of being effectively shunned.

“After four years during which, under the Biden administration, there was no ministerial-level meeting between the U.S. Treasury Department and the Israeli government, ​​we are now entering the Treasury Department,” Mr. Smotrich said. He called Wednesday’s meeting “very important.”

After it concluded, Mr. Smotrich posted on social media a picture of himself shaking hands with Mr. Bessent and said in a statement that they had agreed to “enhance collaboration” on issues including economic policy, technology and financial regulation.

“This is a critical time to shape a new strategic economic future for both countries, reinforcing American global leadership and Israel’s role as a key economic partner,” the statement said.