Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized in a statement before a meeting of the Religious Zionism faction on Monday the appointment of former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak as an Israeli judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in a lawsuit filed by South Africa. Asked by Israel Hayom on the issue, he replied: "The prime minister did not consult with us. That's a mistake."
Smotrich also discussed the continuation of the campaign in Gaza and the assessments that the transition to low-intensity combat is imminent: "The war cannot end and end before we have fully achieved the goals of the war, and that is, first of all, the destruction of Hamas' political and military capabilities, and of course the return of the abductees home, the return of all the hostages. This is our duty, this is the duty of the IDF, and this is the mission defined for the fighters."
The Treasury Secretary also expressed his opinion on Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit later this week: "I thank him for the great support of the United States and President Biden for Israel in the war. There are also disagreements between friends and partners and we must manage them with respect.
US Secretary of State Blinken, Photo: Gettyimages
"I heard the words of the US State Department and the Secretary of State asking us to release the funds that we detained to the Palestinian Authority that are transferred to the families of terrorists and Nazi terrorists in Gaza, and I ask our friends in the United States, is it conceivable that Washington would transfer hundreds of millions of dollars every month to Al Qaeda and from there to the planners and perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that caused the brutal murder of thousands of Americans?
"Israel also cannot agree to the transfer of money that goes to encourage and support terrorism that murders in cold blood, rapes and dissects the heads of our women and children. And as long as I'm finance minister, a shekel won't go to Gaza, to the Nazi terrorists who are there. A shekel will not pass. Even if our best friends in the world will press and demand. It's a decision, it's a policy, and it's the common sense of a people that desires life.
"In addition, I heard criticism of my position in favor of encouraging voluntary emigration of Gaza residents. I want to correct the Secretary of State's mistake, this is not about forcibly or forcibly expelling residents, this is a humanitarian program that will help hundreds of thousands of refugees in Gaza who live in extremely difficult conditions and beg for the possibility of moving elsewhere in order to live in dignity. More than 70% of Israeli citizens support this solution and we are committed to promoting it.
"Why doesn't the international community, concerned about the situation in Gaza, mobilize and open its doors to the refugees? How is it possible that the Arab countries that support them are building barbed wire fences to block the passage of refugees begging to leave Gaza? I call on the United States and the entire international community to lead a humanitarian effort, just as they have helped refugees from Syria and Ukraine and other countries to provide a real solution to the situation."
Regarding criticism from officials in his ministry and from the opposition about the budgets allocated to the many ministries established by the government, Smotrich said, "Closing offices saves a penny and a half. NIS 100 to 200 million. The small offices are not the problem. What is important is consolidation in large ministries, such as transportation, infrastructure and energy, such as economy and labor. This is the important thing that will lower regulation and help the economy."
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