""In light of the approval of the reckless agreement": Otzma Yehudit members resigned from their positions

January 19, 2025   

Ministers of the Otzma Yehudit party - Itamar Ben-Gvir, Yitzhak Waserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu - submitted letters of resignation from their positions to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, the party's MKs, Zvika Fogel, Limor Son-Har Melech and Yitzhak Kreuzer submitted letters of resignation from their positions as heads of the various committees to the coalition chairman. The party's statement stated that the resignation was "in light of the approval of the immoral agreement with the terrorist organization Hamas, the release of hundreds of murderers who killed men, women and children by them - who are also being released to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, while renouncing the IDF's achievements in the war, the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and the cessation of fighting in Gaza, in an agreement that constitutes surrender to Hamas." The party emphasized: "From this time on, the 'Otzma Yehudit' party is not a member of the coalition." Itamar Ben-Gvir addressed today on the 'This Morning' program on Channel B, his announcement that he would resign from the government if the deal to release the hostages goes through: "I said that if there is a immoral deal - I'm leaving. "We can't be in the coalition." Ben Gvir claimed that the deal that was signed was full of holes: "All the government's promises are not being kept, Hamas is returning to Gaza, there is no collapse or victory. We are withdrawing from the Philadelphia axis and life prisoners are being released back to Jerusalem or Judea and Samaria." The minister referred to his appeal to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in opposing the deal, "I was unable to convince him to resign." Ben Gvir added that he expects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approach US President-elect Donald Trump with the aim of "doing things differently." Ben Gvir claimed that the current deal tells Hamas: "Kidnap, murder - that's the only way you will win." The minister said that releasing Palestinian terrorists is "a disaster that prepares for the next October 7th. We may be releasing the next Sinwar.".