Far-right Israeli ministers threaten to resign over Gaza ceasefire proposal

Two far-right Israeli ministers have threatened to quit and collapse the governing coalition if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepts a Gaza ceasefire proposal unveiled by US President Joe Biden on Friday.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said they were opposed to reaching a deal before Hamas was destroyed.

But opposition leader Yair Lapid pledged to back the government if Mr Netanyahu backed the plan.

The prime minister himself insisted that there would be no permanent truce until Hamas’s military and government capabilities were destroyed and all hostages were released.

Mr. Biden’s three-part proposal would begin with a six-week ceasefire during which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza. The agreement would ultimately lead to the release of all hostages, a permanent “cessation of hostilities” and a vast reconstruction plan for Gaza.

But in a social media post on Saturday, Mr. Smotrich said he told Mr. Netanyahu that he “would not be part of a government that would accept the proposed outline and end the war without destroying Hamas and bring back all the hostages.

Echoing his remarks, Mr. Ben-Gvir said that “the agreement…means the end of the war and the abandonment of the goal of destroying Hamas. This is an irresponsible agreement, which constitutes a victory for terrorism and a threat to the security of the State of Israel.

He promised to “dissolve the government” rather than accept the proposal.

Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition holds a slim majority in parliament, drawing on a multitude of factions, including Mr Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party – which holds six seats – and the Religious Zionism party of Mr. Smotrich – who holds seven seats – to retain power.

But Yair Lapid, one of Israel’s most influential opposition politicians, was quick to offer his support to the embattled prime minister. His Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party holds 24 seats.

He said Mr. Netanyahu “has our safety net for a hostage deal if Ben-Gvir and Smotrich leave the government.”

The row came as tens of thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv, calling on the Israeli government to accept Mr Biden’s proposed plan. They also demanded Mr Netanyahu’s resignation. Scuffles broke out between demonstrators and police, and some demonstrators were reportedly arrested.