U.S. Jewish Groups to Shun Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Washington Visit

Major American-Jewish organizations say they will boycott Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during his Sunday visit to Washington, underlining the divide between some of Israel’s staunchest allies in the U.S. and far-right officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Mr. Smotrich, a longtime leader of Israel’s religious nationalists, is traveling to Washington for a conference organized by Israel Bonds, a U.S.-based organization that promotes the purchase of Israeli government securities. Israeli finance ministers have traditionally attended similar conferences to drum up investment interest.