Smotrich has become a burden and must be dismissed, says Israeli minister

Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology called yesterday for the dismissal of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, given his threats regarding the hostage exchange deal with the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas. Gila Gamliel made her comments during an interview with Israel’s Channel 13, in which she appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss Smotrich due to his “unbearable” discourse.

“There is no reason why this deal should not go through,” said Gamliel. “Smotrich’s threats [to dissolve the coalition over the deal], for that he should have been fired immediately. The very threat should have caused him to go home.”

Referring to Smotrich and his far-right coalition allies, particularly National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, Gamliel said that they are a “burden” on this government. “It wouldn’t hurt if they resigned.”

Meanwhile, the head of the Israeli Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, insisted on Wednesday that female Israeli captives in Gaza do not have time to wait until new mechanisms are established in the Strip to detect weapons smuggling. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Barnea as saying: “It could take long weeks. The girls in captivity don’t have time to wait for changes in the proposal under discussion.”

The newspaper explained that Barnea’s statements came in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for the establishment of a specific mechanism that prevents the transfer of weapons from the south of the Gaza Strip to the north before a ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal can be agreed. The Mossad chief pointed out that establishing such a mechanism will take several weeks, at best.

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