Ben Gvir and Smotrich Threaten to Leave Government if it Accepts Biden’s Ceasefire Proposal

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich both announced on Motzei Shabbos that that would not agree to US President Joe Biden’s proposal and threatened to leave the government if his plan was accepted.

Smotrich said in a post on X, “I just spoke with the prime minister and made it clear that I will not be part of a government that agrees to the proposed outline and ends the war without destroying Hamas and bringing back all the hostages.”

He continued saying, “We will not agree to stop the war before Hamas is destroyed. We will not accept undermining the achievements of the war so far by withdrawing the IDF and allowing Gazans to return to the northern part of the [Gaza] Strip. We will not permit the wholesale release of terrorists who might return to murder Jews.”

Smotrich demanded “the continuation of the fight until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are returned.”

“We seek the creation of a completely different security reality in Gaza and Lebanon, the return of all residents to their homes in the North and South, and massive investment in the accelerated development of these areas,” he emphasized.

Ben-Gvir said after Shabbos that “the deal, as its details were announced today, means the end of the war and the abandonment of the goal to destroy Hamas. This is a reckless deal, which constitutes a victory for terrorism and a security threat to the State of Israel.”

He continued saying that “agreeing to such a deal is not an absolute victory, but an absolute defeat.”

“We will not allow the war to end without the complete eradication of Hamas. If the prime minister proceeds with the reckless deal under the conditions published today, which means the end of the war and abandoning the goal to destroy Hamas, Otzma Yehudit will dissolve the government,” Ben-Gvir warned.

{Matzav.com}