Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated this morning (Monday) that in his opinion Hamas should be eradicated with all force - even though 59 hostages remain alive and dead in Gaza.
In an interview with Gali Israel radio, Smotrich said: "Let's make a decision to end Gaza once and for all, let's create trust with the people and prove that we are achieving the goal and destroying Hamas.".
He added: "We have to tell the truth: returning the kidnapped is not the most important goal, it is of course a very, very important goal, but whoever wants to destroy Hamas and neutralize the possibility of another October seven, needs to understand that there cannot be a situation in Gaza where Hamas remains present and exists.".
He emphasized: "The excuses are over, there is no Biden, no Blinken, no Gallant, no Chief of Staff who personally prevented the cessation of humanitarian aid - there are no excuses and I say to the Prime Minister: There is no time for this. The alternative to surrender is to take territory in the Gaza Strip and destroy Hamas.".
The kidnapped people's headquarters attacked the minister's words: "The families have no words this morning except one: shame. At least the minister is revealing to the public the hard truth - this government consciously decided to give up on the kidnapped people. Minister Smotrich - history will remember how you sealed your heart to your captive brothers and sisters and chose not to save them - some from death and some from disappearance.".
Degel Hatorah Chairman MK Moshe Gafni responded: "The return of the kidnapped is the most important issue. These statements compare them to the slurs of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai that the national issue was more important than human life. And the great Torah scholars were not considered in their eyes, they always knew how to say - we have our own rabbis. This is what Smotrich's statement looks like.".
He added: "The United Torah Judaism faction will meet this week to present its position to the Torah luminaries and formulate its position on this matter as well.".
Minister Smotrich replied: "Anyone who still lives with the consciousness of exile and the feeling that the State of Israel is not the return to Zion and the gathering of exiles is capable of thinking of comparing the current reality to the period of the destruction of the Second Temple. Thank God, Gafni represents a minority that is getting smaller in Haredi society, which for the most part is getting closer by giant steps to the State of Israel and to the natural health of a people returning to their land after 2000 years of exile and re-establishing their national and religious home there.".
""In the end, the victory over Hamas is intended to preserve human lives, and there is nothing that would endanger human lives more and encourage, God forbid, additional kidnappings and continued terror and bloodshed than surrendering to a murderous terrorist organization and leaving it as a ruling entity that wields weapons in Gaza, making the lives of the residents of the south bitter and preparing the massacre of October 7 next year. As for the Torah gurus, the time has come for Gafni to start honoring the Torah gurus of religious Zionism, who do not fall into tears, even among the Haredi Torah gurus, and who even get to observe additional commandments such as high-quality military service to help Israel in times of need and to save lives in the act.".
Deputy Minister Uri Maklev responded to Smotrich's words: "It is imperative to criticize things that harm the kidnapped and their families. - It is impossible to remain silent and move on from putting the kidnapped in a secondary place. At a time when the people of Israel are in pain and united in concern and prayer for the kidnapped, putting the kidnapped in a secondary place and treating their situation as a burden, expresses harm and alienation, ignoring the terrible suffering of the kidnapped and the difficult concern of their families, and not for the first time!
""Seeing wars as a goal and not as a lack of choice, with extremist statements and opinions that endanger, isolate us and cause division and strengthen polarity in the people of Israel. Such opinions and actions have historically led to destruction in the people of Israel, even when they were secure in their land and their rule.".
""A party whose members defiantly ascend the Temple Mount and talk about obedience to the rabbis? And fight and oppose the regulation of the status of Torah students. To talk about a minority? Let no poor man be proud!""
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