From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Despite lobbying against deal, Smotrich celebrates return of hostages
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich celebrates the return of hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher after lobbying hard against the current ceasefire-hostage release deal in the cabinet.
“Emily, Doron and Romi, welcome home,” he tweets. “Our hearts go out to you, our dear sisters! The entire nation is proud of you, weeps with you, and embraces you endlessly!”
Smotrich’s far-right Religious Zionism party has threatened that its continued membership in the government hinges upon the war not ending without the complete military defeat of Hamas and has demanded a renewal of the conflict “immediately upon the conclusion of the first phase of the deal.”
The Times of Israel Community.