Israel’s Finance Minister and member of the security cabinet, Bezalel Smotrich, called for the annihilation of his country’s enemies and the “total annihilation” of the cities of Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, in Gaza. He did it with a biblical quote: “You will blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Amalek is a descendant of Jacob, Esau’s brother, whose tribe attacked the Israelites when they began their desert journey from Egypt to the promised land. The story of the Amalekites and their leader is told in the book of Exodus of the Gospels.
Smotrich also criticized the ongoing negotiations for the release of the hostages with Hamas, because that organization should not exist. The minister, who is located to the right of far-right Prime Minister Beniamin Netanyahu, added that once Hamas is destroyed, Israel must eliminate Hezbollah in one fell swoop and thus, with God’s help, warn what will happen to those who They harm the Jewish people. “They will be destroyed. destroyed, destroyed. And this will echo for decades.” For Smotrich, whoever agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza “does not deserve to be considered Israel’s leader,” because it would be a resounding victory for Hamas, which would embolden Israel’s enemies “to prepare the next massacre and eliminate the Zionist enterprise.” Addressing Netanyahu in parliament, he added: “Don’t raise a white flag. Let’s not let Sinwar humiliate us again and win the war. A government that submits to international pressure and stops the war in the middle will lose its right to exist.” He had earlier warned him that if he gave in to American pressure and called off the military assault on Rafah, Netayahu would lose the right to remain in power. An agreement would constitute “a humiliating surrender, a death sentence for hostages not included in an agreement and a danger to the State of Israel,” he said. The negotiation, which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described as “generous” would include the release of 33 hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.
Given Netanyahu’s passivity, Smotrich and the also far-right Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to leave the official coalition if the agreement is finalized. This would imply the fall of the government. According to the newspaper Jerusalem Post, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have 14 seats, making up the majority of 72, in a parliament of 120 members. If the resignation of the genocide lawyers is finalized, with only 58 seats, Netanyahu would lose his position.
