The Prime Minister’s Office of Israel announced a delay in Cabinet votes regarding the controversial deal with Hamas. In a statement released Thursday, the PMO said Hamas has failed to adhere to previous agreements from the negotiating table, and therefore a delay would ensue until the current “crisis” is resolved.
This decision comes as the Israeli government was set to hold two critical votes on the deal: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to convene his Security Cabinet for an initial vote, followed by a full Cabinet vote contingent upon the Security Cabinet’s approval. However, uncertainty now looms over whether these votes will take place today.
The finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich from the far-right Religious Zionism party, called for a meeting to argue his party’s position, as he has aggressively opposed the deal. He even threatened to withdraw his support for the government over the deal, and his party was expected to announce an intention to resign in protest.
The PMO accused Hamas of trying to “last-minute extortionist concessions” and said flatly there would be no votes until Hamas signed on to every one of the agreement’s components. In the words of the PMO, “Hamas is going back on the understandings and manufacturing a last-minute crisis that is delaying an agreement.” The Cabinet will not be convened until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all terms of the agreement.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said this despite the earlier announcements of an agreement on the deal and its progress by mediators Qatar and Egypt, which have influence from the United States. After going through the internal procedures for approval within the government of Israel after the agreed-upon details, is expected to be implemented this Sunday, the 19th day of January.
Reports have been coming in on the nature of the last-minute crisis, including which Palestinian prisoners would be freed in exchange for hostages held in Gaza. The PMO said that while an agreement on certain prisoner releases had been reached, Hamas was now demanding an absolute veto on which prisoners go free. This contradicts a clause giving Israel veto power on the release of those considered mass murderers or symbols of terrorism.
With these developments, the heat is on within the Israeli government. Smotrich’s party is expected to take a major decision regarding its future in the coalition. Party MP Zvi Sukkot said: “We will not be able to remain in this government following such a severe breach of trust – resignation is to be expected.” Fellow extremist minister Itamar Ben Gvir has joined him in opposition to the deal and may quit the government.
With developments in the situation, Prime Minister Netanyahu is likely to delay any votes on the deal until Smotrich and his party take a definitive position on their support for the coalition.
