During the negotiations between the Likud and the coalition parties, the following division of the spoils left behind by United Torah Judaism was proposed: Religious Zionism would receive the housing portfolio left behind by Yitzhak Goldknopf, Otzma Yehudit would receive the chairmanship of the Finance Committee left behind by Moshe Gafni, and the Likud would receive Meir Porush's Jerusalem portfolio, along with three committees in the Knesset.
The Shas party's files have not yet been decided.
However, political sources in the negotiations told Channel 14's Moti Castel that Minister Smotrich, who did not bother to threaten to resign regarding a reckless deal, made an unusual and harsh threat precisely in the face of the prospect of his political opponent receiving the Finance Committee.
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To the question - perhaps Smotrich is afraid of difficulties that Ben-Gvir might plot against him, which would harm his work as Finance Minister - the same political source replied: Smotrich also opposed Ben-Gvir receiving the housing portfolio, while Religious Zionism would receive the Finance Committee.
Minister Smotrich's office responded: "You got confused in the office and came up with a collection of absolute lies. Ben-Gvir is the one who keeps threatening to resign, not Smotrich. He is the one who resigned from the government in the previous deal, brought Netanyahu from his hospital bed and even called on Smotrich to resign now.".
""Smotrich continues to work with all his might to preserve a right-wing government and, with God's help, bring about a complete victory in Gaza and the other sectors, and does not engage in spin, cheap politics, and chairology.".
