Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich temporarily resigned on Friday to become a member of the Knesset again in accordance with the “Norwegian law”. This law allows ministers to temporarily resign as an MP to fully focus on their ministerial duties, or vice versa – to return to legislative activities, The Jerusalem Post reports .
This rotation brings MK Yitzhak Kreutzer back to the Knesset, in accordance with a technical agreement between the Yisrael Beytenu and Religious Zionism parties. Smotrych is expected to resume his duties as Finance Minister on Monday after the Knesset vote.
Political tensions over the hostage deal
Smotrych’s decision coincided with the political crisis that followed the government’s approval of the ceasefire and hostage agreement. The leader of the Otsma Yehudit party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned along with several members of parliament and ministers of his party, calling the agreement “irresponsible” and a “shameful surrender”.
In particular, Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as ministers Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu, opposed the release of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom are accused of attacks on civilians. Their resignations demonstrate the tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
A split in the coalition
Earlier, even before the resignations of the Otsma Yehudit MPs, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli of the Likud party also threatened to resign over the controversial deal. These developments highlight the political divisions within the coalition, which could affect its stability in the face of growing internal and external challenges.
