From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 7, 2023
Sources close to Netanyahu reportedly lash out at Ben Gvir, Smotrich
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After National Security Minister Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich criticized the government’s response to recent terror attacks, sources close to Prime Minister Netanyahu hit back at the two far-right lawmakers.
The sources close to Netanyahu are furious with Ben Gvir and Smotrich, and say the two are hurting Israel’s deterrence due to political considerations, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
Likud lawmakers have been asked to appeal to Ben Gvir and Smotrich to act more responsibly.
Ben Gvir said today he was considering leaving the government over its failure to respond forcefully enough to Palestinian terror while insisting that he would support it from the opposition and would not allow the coalition to collapse.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich indicated to supporters that his patience for his government is running thin in light of its handling of Palestinian terror.
“The fact that checkpoints around Nablus are open is an intolerable crime. We’ve been speaking about this for weeks. I try very hard to be loyal to outward appearances and not attack the government I am a member of, but it can’t continue like this,” he writes on WhatsApp, according to Hebrew-language media reports.
The Times of Israel Community.