Latest news with #humanitarian ceasefire
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smotrich, Netanyahu in crisis after decision on Gaza humanitarian ceasefire
According to the official, if Smotrich didn't receive 'real and concrete' guarantees from the prime minister, the Religious Zionist Party could be "on its way out" of the government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in a 'real' crisis and the relations between them are 'very, very tense and complicated,' following the prime minister's decision over the weekend without Smotrich's knowledge to enact 'localized humanitarian ceasefires' in Gaza, an official told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, if Smotrich did not receive 'real and concrete' guarantees from the prime minister regarding defeating Hamas, Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party could be 'on its way out' of the government. With the coalition currently numbering just 60 MKs following the departure of the two haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties earlier in July, the departure of Smotrich's seven MKs would likely topple the government. At press time on Monday evening, the usually vocal Smotrich had yet to comment publicly on the political tension or on the decision regarding the ceasefires, which the IDF announced early on Sunday morning. The silence was especially notable due to Smotrich's harsh criticism throughout the war against distribution of aid by non-Israeli entities. The RZP leader said in April that he would leave the government if 'even a grain' of aid reached Hamas, and has repeatedly argued that the terrorist group's confiscation of humanitarian aid has enabled it to survive. The silence was also notable in lieu of comments by his fellow party member and National Security Cabinet member, Settlements and National Missions Minister Orit Strock. In an interview on Channel 14 on Sunday evening, Strock said that there was an 'unexplainable' gap between decisions made by the NSC and the reality of what is happening. She said that the ceasefire looked like 'surrender' and that if Netanyahu did not give an adequate explanation 'in deeds, not just words,' there was 'nothing for me to do in the government,' Strock said. Smotrich was 'strongly opposed' to the decision A member of Smotrich's party confirmed on Sunday that he had not been part of the decision regarding the humanitarian ceasefires and had not had prior knowledge of it. He was 'strongly opposed' to the decision, a spokesperson added on Monday in response to a query. The spokesperson added that Smotrich's silence was related to ongoing discussions regarding a potential decision that would 'make it [the silence] clear in hindsight.' The spokesperson said he could not expand further. Smotrich initially scheduled a closed-door meeting of his party for Monday evening to discuss the issue. However, the meeting was postponed due to a security consultation called by the prime minister, the spokesperson confirmed. In a conversation with the Post on Monday afternoon, RZP faction leader MK Ohad Tal said, 'We don't know how to live with a reality of war in Gaza that isn't moving toward decisive victory – while aid continues to be transferred to Hamas on the backs of our soldiers, and we're achieving neither the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages.' Tal continued, 'The next two days will be very critical in determining whether we stay or not. If Bezalel [Smotrich] hears from the prime minister not just a theoretical willingness to defeat Hamas, but a clear, organized work plan backed militarily and diplomatically for victory, then we'll be happy to stay. But if that's not the case, we'll have no choice and will have to go to an election.'
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We're promoting a new strategy': Smotrich breaks silence on Netanyahu's Gaza plan
Smotrich's comments come after Prime Minister Netanyahu enabled "localized humanitarian ceasefires" in the Gaza Strip, with MK Orit Strock saying she may leave the government following the decision. Israel has a strategic plan currently underway in the Gaza Strip, Finance Minister (Religious Zionism Party) Bezalel Smotrich told Religious Zionism party MKs on Sunday night, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement to enable "localized humanitarian ceasefires" in the Strip. While not elaborating on the details, he said that, "In war, it's not right to make political calculations. We will be tested by the results – Hamas's decision. "We are advancing a good strategy, but it's not advisable to expand on it right now. In a short time, we will know if it pays off and where we are headed." Netanyahu's decision led National Missions Minister Orit Strock, a member of Smotrich's party, to consider leaving the government. Attending conference for 'plan' to resettle in Gaza These comments come less than a week after he participated in a conference titled "Riviera in Gaza – From Vision to Reality" in the Knesset, where a "practical plan" for establishing a permanent Jewish presence in the Gaza Strip was presented. At the conference, Smotrich stated, "The chief of staff told me a week ago that we need to annex the northern border of the Gaza Strip for security reasons." The conference organizers said that "social, legal, security, and logistical models" for the settlement plan were presented. The conference was attended by right-wing Knesset members, community leaders from the Gaza border region, former security officials, bereaved families, and hostage representatives. Smotrich met with bereaved families and relatives of hostages still in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a deal with Hamas, amid reports claiming that he may oppose a deal and even consider resigning from the government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Smotrich to join a front against the deal. In response, the Finance Ministry stated: "We regularly meet with bereaved families and relatives of hostages. We firmly oppose the deal and believe it will take us backward." Eliav Breuer and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
