From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 10, 2025
Smotrich rejects ’emotional manipulation’ as ex-hostage’s cousin interrupts faction meeting at Knesset
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"
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declares that he will not give in to “emotional manipulation” after Eyal Calderon, the cousin of recently released hostage Ofer Calderon, disrupts a press conference in the Knesset.
Holding up an image of his cousin reuniting with his family, Calderon accuses Smotrich of trying to prevent the former hostage’s release. Smotrich opposed the ceasefire with Hamas and has demanded Israel resume fighting the terror group instead of advancing to the next stage of the deal.
“Is this the picture you tried to prevent?” he asks. “How are we different? If we sacrifice our brothers, how we are different from the Nazis behind the fence [in Gaza]?”
Smotrich respectfully disagrees, arguing that he “will not sacrifice 10 million Jews in the State of Israel.”
Absolute victory lies in “destroying Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran,” Smotrich states, as Calderon is removed from the room. “We won’t give in to this populism.”
Finance Minister Smotrich declares that he will not give in to "emotional manipulation" after Eyal Kalderon, the cousin of recently released hostage Ofer Calderon, disrupts a press conference in the Knesset, accusing the minister of seeking to prevent his cousin's release pic.twitter.com/9n0NOMhUWH
— Sam Sokol (@SamuelSokol) February 10, 2025
