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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Saturday with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit, to deliver his reaction to U.S. President Joe Biden’s speech and the update on the hostage return plan.
According to a source briefed on the meeting, Netanyahu urged them “not to rush to give answers.” About an hour and a half later, Ben Gvir and Smotrich issued a statement explicitly warning they would dissolve the government if the plan was approved.
“I have spoken to the prime minister, I agree with the proposed plan and made it clear that I will not be part of a government that ends the war without destroying Hamas and returning all hostages,” Smotrich said in a statement.
Leaders are firmly opposed to the agreement
“I do not agree to ending the war before destroying Hamas. Withdrawing the IDF and allowing Gaza residents to return to northern Gaza, or fully releasing terrorists who may return to kill Jews, would severely undermine the gains of the war so far,” Smotrich said.
“We demand that the fight continue until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are returned, that a completely different security reality be established in Gaza and Lebanon, that all residents of the north and south return to their homes, and that significant investments be made to accelerate the development of these territories,” Smotrich continued.
Ben Gvir strongly opposed the agreement, saying: “The agreement announced today means an end to the war and an abandonment of the goal of destroying Hamas. Agreeing to such an agreement is not an absolute victory, but an absolute defeat. The war cannot end without completely eliminating Hamas.”
He added, threatening that “if the prime minister implements the questionable agreement under the conditions announced today, which would mean an end to the war and an abandonment of the goal of destroying Hamas, Otzma Yehudit will dissolve the government.”
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