From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 27, 2025
Smotrich says he’s working to turn Trump idea of resettling Gazans into policy
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"
Praising US President Donald Trump’s proposal to move some of Gaza’s population to Jordan and Egypt, temporarily or permanently, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich states that he is working to turn this idea into an actionable policy.
Speaking with reporters ahead of his Religious Zionism party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Smotrich says that he is working on an “operational plan” to implement Trump’s idea.
“After years of statesmen trying to impose their imaginations on reality, the US president is finally acknowledging reality, Gaza is a hotbed of terrorism that creates suffering for both the residents of the State of Israel and the residents of Gaza themselves,” Smotrich declares
“There is no doubt that in the long term, encouraging emigration is the only solution that will bring peace and security to the residents of Israel and also ease the suffering of the Arab residents of Gaza,” he adds.
“I am working with the prime minister and the cabinet to prepare an operational plan and ensure the realization of President Trump’s vision,” he continues. “There is nothing to be excited about the weak opposition of Egypt and Jordan to the plan. We saw yesterday how Trump [imposed his will on] Colombia to deport immigrants despite its opposition. When he wants it, it happens.”
Turning to the selection of Justice Isaac Amit as permanent Supreme Court president, Smotrich calls his election “an illegitimate decision that was made without authority, especially against the backdrop of the cloud of suspicions that hang over him and are damaging to the the all-important public trust in the court.”
“We will not agree to accept this distorted situation,” he says, pledging “to advance legislation to change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee.”
