Israeli Minister Suspends Support for Coalition Over US Ceasefire Proposal

Jerusalem, 5 June, 2024 (TPS) -- Israeli National Security Minister and leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit Itamar Ben-Gvir said on social media on Wednesday that he is suspending his party’s support for Knesset votes until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discloses the details of a US ceasefire proposal.

“As long as the prime minister continues to hide the details of the deal, Otzma Yehudit will disrupt his coalition,” Ben Gvir said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

President Joe Biden on Friday unveiled a three-phase plan to end the war featuring the release of Israeli hostages and imprisoned Palestinian terrorists, the return of Palestinians to their Gaza communities and the expansion of humanitarian aid deliveries. The proposal, however, does not remove Hamas from Gaza, nor does it address the threat of Hezbollah and the thousands of Israelis forced to evacuate communities in northern Israel.

Biden said the outline of his ceasefire is based on an Israeli proposal. But Israeli officials said the White House plan was only a “partial version” of Jerusalem’s proposal. Among the sticking points is whether Israeli forces will fully or partially withdraw from the Strip.

The Israeli government is divided. Leaders of the two Orthodox Jewish parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas voiced their support for it, citing the religious imperatives of redeeming captives.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads the Religious Zionism party, said on Saturday night, “I will not be part of a government that agrees to the proposed outline and ends the war without destroying Hamas and bringing back all the hostages.” However, Hebrew media reports indicated Smotrich is consulting with rabbis associated with the party about his future in the coalition.

Smotrich’s party has seven Knesset seats while Ben-Gvir’s party has six.

Losing Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism would leave the governing coalition with 59 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.

Further complicating the Knesset numbers for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is that National Union party leader Benny Gantz is considering leaving the coalition as well. Gantz and his eight-seat party joined the coalition shortly after the October 7 attacks for national unity. But in mid-May, Gantz said he would quit the coalition if Netanyahu did not formulate a plan for post-war Gaza by June 8.

However, Gantz supports the White House proposal and is rethinking his next steps.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid supports the US proposal and on Saturday night offered to provide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a “safety net” to approve the ceasefire if Smotrich and Ben-Gvir leave. Lapid’s Yesh Atid party has 24 seats. Lapid added that his support for the government would be limited to the ceasefire plan and not apply to other legislation.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 120 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed dead.