Smotrich: Religious Zionism staying in government ‘to make sure the war doesn’t end’

Though celebrating the return of the hostages, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich maintains his opposition to the ceasefire and condemns what he claims are efforts to “silence” this position.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his Religious Zionism party’s weekly faction meeting at the Knesset, Smotrich lashes out at those who he says are working to “delegitimize, demonize and dehumanize” people like him.

“We were a small, sober, realistic, determined minority who warned of the consequences of the withdrawal” from Gaza in 2005. In 2011, “they demonized us in the face of the euphoria of an entire nation that surrendered to the campaign in the Shalit deal,” he says.

“When the evil of Hamas lives, exists, breathes,” then the “next massacre” is only a matter of time, Smotrich asserts. “That is why I insisted, demanded and received an unequivocal commitment from the prime minister, defense minister and the rest of my cabinet colleagues: We are not stopping this war a moment before realizing its full goals, which include destroying Hamas on the civilian, military and government levels and returning all the hostages to their homes.”

“We are staying in the government to make sure that the war does not end a moment before complete victory,” he says.

Smotrich also welcomes Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, stating that he hopes and believes “that very soon we will hear more good news from the United States” on issues ranging from Iran to West Bank settlement.

“We are taking advantage of two years of a right-wing government with full backing in the White House with both houses of Congress, and with God’s help, they are an opportunity for historic changes,” he says.

Smotrich also calls for the replacement of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

“I want to say that I have great respect for the chief of staff and the other IDF commanders. Can anyone argue with their many years of contribution? People sacrificed their best years of their time and energy for the security of the State of Israel. In this war too, there were very great achievements in everything that concerns the use of IDF power,” he says.

However, under his watch “Hamas brought in 15 months of humanitarian aid that maintained the civilian population’s dependence on [Hamas],” Smotrich argues, saying that Halevi “bears personal responsibility for this matter.”

“I really love him as chief of staff. I want to hug him. Every time I meet him I know that he hasn’t slept a single hour a day since the beginning of this war. It’s not an easy struggle,” the far-right leader continues.

But, he says, Halevi and his colleagues “have some aversion to anything that smacks of occupation. Military rule is a word that some have outlawed from the Israeli lexicon. There is no way to defeat Hamas and bring security to the citizens of Israel without doing this.”