Itamar Ben-Gvir, photo: Reuters
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and MPs from his Otsma Yehudit party have resigned from the Israeli government after the hostage deal with Hamas terrorists was approved. This decision followed their earlier statements that they would leave the coalition if the deal was approved, The Jerusalem Post reports.
“This agreement is irresponsible and a capitulation to Hamas. It means withdrawal from Gaza, an end to hostilities and the release of hundreds of terrorists who have the blood of innocents on their hands,” Ben-Gvir said.
The party’s statement also noted that “this is a betrayal of Israel’s national interests, as the release of terrorists and their subsequent return to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria is a shameful step”.
In an official letter of resignation sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir expressed his “personal gratitude” to the prime minister for his work, but stressed that the party would no longer support the government on issues that contradict its ideology and conscience.
In addition to Ben-Gvir, ministers of the Otsma Yehudit party, Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu, also submitted their resignations. According to the law, these resignations will take effect in 48 hours.
It remains unclear who will replace the departing MPs, including the chairman of the National Security Committee, Zvik Vogel, and a member of the Judicial Selection Committee, Itzhak Kreutzer.
At the same time, several other ministers from the Religious Zionist Party and Likud have already announced the possibility of resigning if the permanent ceasefire agreement is implemented.
