Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is facing a difficult political battle ahead of Israel’s October 27 election after his position on ultra-Orthodox military exemptions angered some of his traditional supporters in West Bank settlements. Smotrich, 46, leads the far-right Religious Zionism party and is a prominent advocate of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. During his time in government, Smotrich has pushed for increased settlement construction, earning strong support from parts of the settler movement. Although Smotrich says ultra-Orthodox men should serve in the Israeli military, he argues that arrests would deepen divisions within Israeli society. Religious Zionism currently holds seven seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament.