Far-right minister rejects release of Palestinian prisoners in truce deal
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says he opposes releasing any Palestinian prisoners as part of a potential Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Smotrich described the release of Palestinian inmates as a “terrible and horrific event”, adding, “I will not agree to it, a red line must be drawn.”
He highlighted the 2011 release of Hamas’s now leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In October 2011, Hamas freed Shalit in exchange for Israel releasing 1,027 Palestinian prisoners, including Sinwar.
“We saw what happened in the deal for Gilad Shalit. We released Yahya Sinwar and we see what we got in return. With what logic will we release the next Yahya Sinwar and endanger thousands more Israelis?”
Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, added: “I will oppose this even if it ends my political career.”
He also criticised Israel’s “security establishment”, claiming it’s pursuing an “illegal deal at any cost”.
‘We cannot end the war without restoring the deterrent force’
The former head of Israel’s National Security Council, Meir Ben-Shabbat, was interviewed by the Israeli daily Maariv. Here are some of the main points he made:
- We cannot end the war without restoring the deterrent force that was shattered.
- We have to make a change in security, and the geographical proximity to the enemy does not allow us to take unnecessary risks.
- The pressure exerted on Israel by the Americans contributed to prolonging the fighting.
- The Biden administration seeks to have an achievement such as ending the war and returning the kidnapped before the presidential elections.
- It is not possible to establish a new regional order without eliminating Hamas and destroying its military capabilities.
- Those who reject the establishment of Israeli military rule in Gaza do not have good options to offer for the next day.
Blaming the US for prolonging the war....
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