Israeli Finance Minister Urges Formation of Emergency Government

Amid the conflict with Hamas, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior opposition figure Benny Gantz to form an emergency government. Smotrich’s call follows a televised address Sunday night by Gantz, who indicated his willingness to establish a war cabinet to manage military operations in and around the Gaza Strip. Smotrich emphasized the need for unity, dismissing the idea of negotiations at this critical juncture.

Adding to the political dynamics, Avigdor Liberman, the chief of the opposition Yisrael Beitenu party, announced his willingness to join the government under certain conditions. Liberman insisted that Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi must publicly commit to the complete eradication of the armed Islamist group Hamas. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir echoed these conditions, stating that he would agree to a unity government only if its stated mission is to fully defeat Hamas.