National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir addressed the Netanyahu trial and the policy in the Gaza Strip at noon (Monday) at his faction's meeting in the Knesset.
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Ben Gvir called the current period "a historic and fateful period, a period in which we are not only facing enormous challenges, but also can change things, ensure the future of our next generation, and save it from paying the heavy prices that the State of Israel and the people of Israel paid for the mistakes they made in the past.".
He said, "Some of our challenges are security-related, some are political, and some are internal to us, such as the attempt to maintain a democratic system of government, in the face of a hostile legal advisor and a legal system that is trying to seize power from elected officials, and transfer Israel to a dictatorship of officials, without limits on power, who are not bound by the law, are not bound by justice, have no body above them to restrain or review, and most importantly - do not stand the test of the people's trust.".
He sharply attacked the conduct of the Netanyahu cases: "One of the injustices of these bodies is the trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is an investigation that began with a sin. The stitching up of a case from the ground up. An investigation that was conducted while criminal offenses were being committed by the prosecution, an unbaked indictment that was hastily filed, when the Attorney General at the time is recorded saying that he was being blackmailed by the state attorney who is holding him by the throat. And even when the judges in the trial say that there is no offense of bribery, the prosecution insists - and insists even in the middle of a war - to continue the trial.".
Ben Gvir commented on the words of US President Donald Trump: "I heard President Trump's call to stop the trial. Of course I am in favor of it, this call is justified, but a pardon is not the way, but the cancellation of the indictment. A pardon means that the accused did something - and he is forgiven. But here we are not talking about the perpetrator - but about the victim.
""This indictment is the result of stitching up cases, and criminal conduct that must be investigated. For the citizens of Israel, for those who will be stitched up, and therefore the indictment must be dropped, not through amnesty, the Prime Minister is not a criminal who is given amnesty, the criminals are the stitchers of the cases - but through the cancellation of the indictment.".
Ben Gvir expressed firm opposition to a partial deal with Hamas. "I want to address what is happening in Gaza, the negotiations that are currently underway, and present my position, and the sharp criticism that I express in closed rooms, and the time has come to say it here as well: It is time for us to learn from the mistakes of the past. Not to repeat the mistakes that led the State of Israel to the current situation.
""I firmly oppose another partial deal with Hamas. Another 'deal' that would grant Hamas a ceasefire, give them unlimited supplies, international legitimacy - and most importantly: time to recover, arm themselves to harm IDF soldiers - and continue to hold some of the hostages in order to blackmail us further in the future.".
""We must release the kidnapped, but not by neglecting the security of Israeli citizens, leaving Hamas on our border, and releasing dangerous terrorists, who we have already seen immediately return to terrorism. The kidnapped must be released by force, by completely halting humanitarian aid.".
""But under no circumstances should any goal, no matter how important, be allowed to replace the ultimate goal of the war: the complete defeat of Hamas, so that it can no longer massacre our citizens and kidnap hundreds of them. Imagine if we had stopped the War of Independence because of prisoners, or the Six-Day War?!".
Ben Gvir criticized the government's conduct in the current operation: "We must completely eliminate Hamas and end the Gaza problem by encouraging immigration. Because if we don't decide - there will be more hostages, another October 7, more citizens who will live in fear. And this, God forbid, will be our legacy to the next generation.".
""Unfortunately, that's not what's happening now. I'm saying this explicitly to the prime minister. We're floundering in Gaza. There are no policies and guidelines for a complete decision. There's no clear order for the fighters to decide.".
""I really want peace, with every country, in the region and not in the region. But I am not prepared in any way for us to pay for an economic peace agreement with any country by leaving Hamas in control of Gaza. The Abraham Accords are an important thing, but they did not prevent the October massacre - and it is our duty to prevent a repeat of the October massacre at all costs. We once missed the ultimatum offered by President Trump to release all the hostages in Gaza or the gates of hell will open on them.".
The minister concluded with an unequivocal call: "The time has come to make a courageous and leadership decision, and to define the ultimate goal now: to decide. to win. to assist the work in Gaza, and to encourage the migration of Gazans from there. This is the ultimate goal of the war - and only in this way can we achieve victory. Until the end, full on!""
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