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Bezalel Smotrich: There are two million Nazis living in Gaza ready to murder and rape Jews

The Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader laid out his conditions for a peace with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

Finance Minister and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich said in a statement to his Knesset faction today (Monday) that Israel cannot ignore the price being paid for the hostage deal, which might lead to another massacre.

In his speech, he welcomed the change in administration, comparing it favorably with that of former President Biden: "The Prime Minister is currently in the United States on a visit of exceptional importance for the State of Israel, its future, and its security. We are already seeing the refreshing change in the attitude of the new administration towards the State of Israel, and I am confident that President Trump will continue to work to strengthen Israel's security and status as he has done until now.

"Unfortunately, the previous administration publicly chose to boycott a large part of the Israeli people and its elected representatives, whereas the Trump administration presents a different approach that expresses mutual respect and appreciation for Israeli democracy."

Smotrich then expressed his views on the hostage deal: "The joy of the return of every hostage is very great and exciting for every Israeli and every Jew. However, we cannot ignore the prices and difficult scenes we see in Gaza, scenes of Hamas demonstrating its rule and control on the ground and the blood-thirsty cruelty and hatred of Israel by many Gazans who support Hamas.

"All of these clearly show that it is not possible to end the campaign a moment before the complete destruction of Hamas, and if, God forbid, we do not do this, it is only a matter of time before they prepare and launch the next massacre. We are determined and preparing for this."

Having done so, Smotrich then outlined his view of what peace with Arab countries should look like: "Our government believes in the approach of peace through strength, as we saw in the Abraham Accords.

"We support a peace agreement with additional Arab countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, but on the condition that they are based on truth, not on lies that Arabs have national rights in the Land of Israel, and that they do not come at the expense of the security of the residents of the State of Israel, including the fulfillment of the war objectives of destroying Hamas's military and governmental power, removing the threat, and returning all hostages.

"An agreement with Saudi Arabia cannot, of course, come with a promise of hope to the terrorist-supporting Palestinian Authority and Arabs in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, regarding the horizon of establishing a Palestinian state in the heart of the State of Israel.

"This is always true, and it is even more true after October 7th, so that no one gets the feeling that the Arabs are receiving a prize for October 7th. This cannot be part of any arrangement.

Smotrich then emphasized the importance of continuing the military offensive against all terrorists: "Alongside peace agreements with additional Arab countries, we must increase offensive activity in Judea and Samaria to eradicate terrorism and fulfill the additional war objective accepted at the request of the Religious Zionist party.

"Operation Iron Wall in the Northern Samaria is a good start, and I congratulate Defense Minister Israel Katz, a friend of Israel, on the new and important spirit he has brought to the Ministry of Defense and strengthen his hand to deepen this effort."

After this speech, Smotrich took questions from reporters, saying that Gazans are all "Nazis" who seek to rape and murder all Jews as such and that withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor would be a red line for him in terms of staying in the government.


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