Pro-Israel Democrat Ritchie Torres says ‘rooting’ for Smotrich, Ben Gvir to resign

Pro-Israel Democrat Ritchie Torres tweets that he is “rooting” for far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir to resign.

Both ministers have announced that their parties will not vote for a deal that would secure the release of roughly 50 hostages in exchange for a four-day ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinian women and minors jailed by Israel.

Religious Zionism MK Ohad Tal has said that his far-right party headed by Smotrich is considering bolting the coalition if the deal is approved. Ben Gvir has not yet commented on whether he would do the same.

While Torres is one of the most pro-Israel members of Congress, he has not shied away from criticizing the far-right elements of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, branding Ben Gvir a “despicable disgusting dangerous demagogue” in September.