Smotrich calls on opposition to halt ‘cynical, evil’ criticism of government over hostage deal negotiations

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls on opposition leaders to halt their “cynical” criticism of the government over negotiations for a hostage deal with Hamas.

“The attempt to portray a large part of the people of Israel as having a hard heart for the hostages is cynical, evil and deepens the division and rift between us,” and damages the chances of an agreement, he says.

“We all pray and are committed to the return of all the hostages to their families,” he tells reporters ahead of his Religious Zionism party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.

Many of Israel’s troops who have risked their lives in battle “oppose deals with the devil and agreements that would nullify the achievements of the war,” he continues, singling out National Unity chairman Benny Gantz and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid for criticism.

Turning to the substance of a deal, Smotrich says that “a partial deal with Hamas will result in dozens of hostages being abandoned in captivity, leave Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip, and allow it to prepare for the next massacre with the help of the murderers who will be released from prison.”

“Therefore, we oppose a bad deal of this sort and will do everything in our power to prevent it,” he says.

Changing the subject, Smotrich welcomes Defense Minister Israel Katz’s decision to order IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi to present all of the investigations into the October 7, 2023, onslaught by the end of January.

Katz has stated that he will not approve the appointments of new generals until he is presented with the findings of the IDF’s internal probes.

“The time has come to replace the senior command,” he states, charging that the defense establishment leadership had “failed on October 7” by falling prey to the widely accepted paradigm that believed Israel’s enemies were deterred and would not start a war that they couldn’t win.