Boaz Bismuth Elected to Lead Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee
New Defense Committee chair says his own kids are ‘Torah and IDF’ — and vows to unite the two worlds in the draft law debate
JERUSALEM — In a decisive internal vote, Likud MK Boaz Bismuth was elected today to chair the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, replacing veteran lawmaker Yuli Edelstein. The committee is expected to play a central role in shaping the controversial IDF draft bill in the coming weeks.
Bismuth, a former journalist and Israeli ambassador, described the appointment as “a national mission of the highest order.”
“The Torah brought me here, and the army keeps me here,” he said. “My daughter serves with a red beret, my son wears a kippah and learns Torah. The combination of Torah and army is beautiful. One strengthens the other.”
He emphasized that the draft law should not be politicized:
“This is not a political issue. It is a national matter. One that affects all of Israel, for the good of all of Israel.”
Bismuth’s election passed with a wide majority during the Likud faction’s Wednesday meeting.