Likud, Smotrich continue to tussle over Palestinian policies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich continue to publicly trade barbs over who has taken a harder line with the Palestinians.

Religious Zionism snaps back at Likud’s criticism of Smotrich’s functioning as finance minister and the insinuation he didn’t assist Israeli civilians soon enough after the war with Hamas began.

“The only taps the prime minister tried to pressure the finance minister into opening through different tricks are the ones designed to send money to the Palestinian Authority in order to transfer them to Hamas. Good thing that the finance minister stood firm and set a red line,” the Religious Zionism party retorts to Likud’s earlier jibe.

The reference is to Smotrich’s refusal to transfer part of the tax funds Israel has collected for the Palestinian Authority, which are designated for paying government salaries and for various services and utilities in Gaza, as well as for stipends to the families of convicted Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails.

Netanyahu is thought to be in favor of transferring the funds, but Smotrich implied on Monday he would resign from the government if that happened.

Following Religious Zionism’s riposte, Likud one again responds: “We appreciate Smotrich’s support for the policies Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading for the day after Hamas is eliminated — we won’t replace Hamastan with Fatahstan.”