Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated this morning (Tuesday), in an interview with 'Kol Berama' radio, that when Shin Bet head Ronen Bar speaks at the political-security cabinet that will convene this evening (Tuesday), he will "go on a break.".
Smotrich explained that "from time to time I need a moment to take a break for a cup of coffee, for the bathroom, I'll do it while he's talking, simply to use the time.".
According to him, "Ronen Bar is not solely responsible, but he is directly responsible for the greatest strategic failure the country has ever had. He should have gone home a long time ago and his clinging to the altar is unfounded. All government ministers made a decision to remove him from his position. I am not suspected of involvement in 'Catargate' and I had a number of reasons why removing him from his position was justified.".
Regarding the affidavit submitted by Bar, in which he claimed that Netanyahu demanded the involvement of the Shin Bet in activities against the protests, the minister said: "I cannot testify to what happened in the conversations between the prime minister and the Shin Bet head, but in the cabinet meetings there were ministers who felt threatened, and there was a statement to the Shin Bet head that he would take responsibility and do his job. I do not want the Shin Bet to suppress demonstrations, and what was said was that the Shin Bet head would ensure that the protest did not spill over from a legitimate protest into a threat to life.".
Smotrich also addressed his confrontation with MK Moshe Gafni, who criticized him yesterday following his statement that "returning the kidnapped is not the most important goal.".
""I don't understand why Gafni jumps into attacking me, what does he gain from each time he attacks someone else in the coalition? And that's without considering the level of the argument, which is at grass-level.".
""I do not deny the legitimacy of the debate, but the debate should be substantive. When Gafni says that I am a 'nationalist' and therefore willing to give up on the kidnapped, the debate is not substantive. There is a debate of views between the Haredim and religious Zionism regarding the reference to the period. The majority of the Haredi public, even if they do not see the state as the beginning of the growth of our redemption, do not think like Gafni. It is a legitimate expectation that the Haredi public will mobilize, and I am one of the greatest defenders of the Haredi public.".
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
