National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir admitted in a post on X/Twitter on Tuesday that his party had repeatedly prevented the conclusion of a hostage deal.
https://twitter.com/itamarbengvir/status/1879075942015893956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Over the past year, through our political power, we have managed to repeatedly prevent this deal from moving forward,” he noted.
According to Ben-Gvir, “additional elements” have since joined the government “and now support the agreement, and we no longer hold the balance of power.”
Ben-Gvir’s remarks were made as part of his call for Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to leave the government if a hostage deal was approved.
The “additional element” in question is the United Right party, which increased the size of the coalition from 64 to 68 Knesset members. This means that Ben-Gvir and his six deputies no longer make a difference. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich together, however, pose a credible threat to the government, and this combined threat could hamper Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motivation to see the deal through.
An Israeli official said in response to Ben Gvir’s comments: “Contrary to Minister Ben-Gvir’s assertions, the only party that has managed to prevent a hostage release agreement since November 2023 is the terrorist organization Hamas, which is remained stubborn, as did senior American officials. officials have stated this repeatedly.
What has now changed Hamas’ position are Israel’s significant achievements in the war: the crushing of Hezbollah and the elimination of Nasrallah, the direct strikes in Iran, the elimination of Yahya Sinwar and the rest of Hamas leaders, the intensification of military pressure on Hamas in Gaza, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. This is in addition to the significant diplomatic pressure exerted by US President-elect Donald Trump on Hamas,” the official noted.
“Hamas refused to release more than 12 hostages, was unwilling to make a deal as long as Israel remained in Gaza, and rejected Israeli presence in the Philadelphia corridor after taking control of it,” added the person responsible.
Calling on Smotrich to join him, Ben-Gvir had asserted in an earlier statement that “the agreement that is emerging is a capitulation to Hamas!”
“I call on my colleague, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to join me and collaborate in opposing the surrender agreement with Hamas,” he said.
“Otzma Yehudit alone does not have the capacity to block the agreement. I suggest that we together go to the Prime Minister and inform him that if he approves the agreement, we will resign from the government,” added the minister.
“Even if we find ourselves in opposition, we will not bring down the Prime Minister,” Ben-Gvir stressed.
“However, this collaboration is our only way to prevent the surrender agreement, put an end to this terrible deal, and ensure that the deaths of hundreds of soldiers are not in vain.”
Israeli public broadcaster K.A.N. reported later Tuesday that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of the hostage deal negotiations.
According to the article, citing Smotrich’s aides, the minister was in talks over the consequences of the deal.
Staffers also said Smotrich’s decision on whether to support the deal or not would be free of political considerations.
The finance minister met on Monday and Tuesday with a series of security officials, confidants, families of hostages and fallen soldiers, as well as party members, to decide how he intends to oppose the agreement, after calling it a “violation of national security”. disaster” Monday. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Minister of Finance had not yet announced his decision.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to Ben-Gvir’s remarks in a post on X.
“For a year, I have been saying: ‘We don’t enter into hostage contracts for political reasons,’” Lapid noted, adding that everyone then asked themselves: “How can I say such a thing. Today ‘Today, Ben-Gvir was released. a video and told, directly to the camera, without blinking the terrible truth.
https://twitter.com/yairlapid/status/1879095060181987829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
On Tuesday, sources familiar with the matter said The Jerusalem Post that a hostage deal could be announced Tuesday if there are no last-minute surprises.
Meetings are expected to be held today in Qatar to finalize the deal.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rep. Ohad Tal, coordinator of the Religious Zionist Party, said in a speech at an event called the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast at President-elect Donal Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate that Trump “should not support a deal that would lead to this total evil.” of Hamas in power. Do not support a deal that would leave behind a large majority of hostages.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
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