Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced this evening that he would temporarily resign from his position in the government in order to remove MK Yitzchok Kroizer of Otzma Yehudit from the Knesset. The move comes in response to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s alleged violation of the coalition agreement.
A source in the Religious Zionism party told Arutz Sheva, “Otzma Yehudit’s behavior is incomprehensible. It’s a shame they are not fulfilling their commitment to return Sukkot to the Knesset, even though, at Otzma Yehudit’s request, the coalition allowed MK Kroizer to remain in the Knesset at the time of their party’s withdrawal from the government.”
“Sukkot and Kroizer are excellent national parliamentarians,” the source continued, “but Ben-Gvir’s refusal to fulfill his commitment and carry out the removal of these two players from the coalition is unnecessary and inappropriate.”
Otzma Yehudit issued a restrained response, stating, “We will not get into unnecessary quarrels in the coalition. If it doesn’t work out, we don’t need ‘Norwegian’ MKs.” The party added that they have found a new role for Kroizer outside the Knesset: “He will be appointed director-general of Otzma Yehudit.”
Religious Zionism party director-general Yehuda Wald wrote, “We kept Kroizer in the Knesset for two months in the place reserved for Religious Zionism, even though Ben-Gvir and his party withdrew from the coalition and expelled Zvi Sukkot from the Knesset. Now they have realized that they were wrong and returned to the government. Welcome back.
“Now, despite explicit agreements, they refuse to honor the terms and return Zvi to the Knesset. Itamar demands jobs and a ministerial position that is unnecessary—at the expense of the Israeli people—in the middle of a war. Childish behavior.”
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