Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that he will seek to topple the government if the second phase of the deal results in ending the war without achieving Israel’s military objectives.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Smotrich revealed that he had endured a week without sleep due to the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement. However, he ultimately decided to remain in the government after becoming convinced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the incoming Trump administration were committed to removing Hamas as the ruling force in Gaza, including by military force if necessary.
He added that if Hamas were to lay down its arms, its leaders were to leave Gaza, and all hostages were released, military intervention would not be needed, though he considered this scenario highly unlikely. He further expressed his belief that Israel would resume military operations shortly after the conclusion of the first phase of the deal in early March.
His Position on the Deal and Its Impact on the Government
Smotrich pointed out that the deal would have gone through whether he left the government or not. While he personally believed that the agreement was a strategic mistake, he acknowledged that the majority of the coalition supported it, meaning he could not impose a minority opinion on the rest of the government.
He warned that one of the most dangerous aspects of the deal was the perception that taking Israeli hostages had proven effective, which could lead to future kidnappings of Israelis or Jews abroad, an act that, according to him, could be carried out easily and force Israel into paying a heavy price.
His Criticism of the War’s Duration and the Role of the U.S.
Smotrich also criticized the prolonged duration of the war, arguing that it should have been conducted much more swiftly. He blamed the arms embargo imposed by the Biden administration as a key factor that delayed the war effort and prolonged the conflict.
He asserted that Trump would not prevent Israel from resuming the war, emphasizing that the real question was not whether Washington would allow Israel to act, but whether it would make the process easier or more difficult. He expressed confidence that the Trump administration is aligned with Israel’s stance on the conflict.
The Role of Arab Countries in the Fight Against Hamas
Smotrich also claimed that the so-called “moderate axis” in the region, comprising Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, secretly wants Israel to go further in completely destroying Hamas. He argued that Israel is conducting this war on behalf of these countries, adding that Hamas’ destruction serves Arab regimes allied with Israel even more than it benefits the Israelis themselves.
Read more on this link: https://www.elhodh.info/en/al-hawd-news-2/
