Smotrich: Calls for early Israel elections ‘irresponsible’

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said yesterday that holding early elections during the ongoing war on Gaza is “irresponsible”.

In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Smotrich said: “Going to elections during a war is irresponsible. The elections will end the war in the south and the north, and the residents of the north (Israel) will not return to their homes in peace,” he added in reference to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.

“The end of the war will mean that Hamas will remain and within two years it will return to how it was before October 7,” he added, claiming  the Israelis have paid “heavy prices” in these months.

“Let us make sure they were not in vain. We must not agree to the surrender deal,” he added, describing a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

A growing number of Israelis have been calling for early elections following the failure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to free the prisoners of war held in Gaza.

Read: Israel DM calls for probe into his and PM’s failures on 7 October