From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Religious Zionism’s minister Strock says party will topple government if PM continues to 2nd phase of deal
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. 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"
Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock warns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against continuing on to the second phase of the hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Speaking with Army Radio, the far-right minister says that “if Netanyahu decides to go in this disastrous direction” then her party will “make sure that the government does not continue to exist.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of Strock’s Religious Zionism party, has previously threatened to quit the coalition if Israel does not resume fighting Hamas at the end of the current 42-day first phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal.
Yesterday, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid pledged that the government won’t fall over continuing with the agreement, repeating that his party would provide a political safety net.
The Times of Israel Community.