For over two years, the State of Israel has been embroiled in a high-intensity war triggered by the October 7, 2023, massacre, which saw thousands of Hamas terrorists invade southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages. Since then, the nation has navigated a complex landscape of military operations in Gaza, escalating tensions in Judea and Samaria, and a significant domestic economic crisis. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a pivotal meeting with US President Donald Trump in Miami, the internal political pressure within Israel’s coalition has reached a boiling point regarding the "day after" in Gaza and the future of the Israeli economy.
The Washington Mission and the "Absolute Victory"
During a Religious Zionism faction meeting on Monday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the Prime Minister's impending trip to meet President Donald Trump. He insisted that Netanyahu must ensure Israel does not halt its momentum until the primary goal, the total destruction of Hamas, is realized. While Smotrich acknowledged the profound responsibility to return the hostages, he stressed that the commitment to a total defeat of the terror organization remains an unfinished obligation.
Referencing a previous remark by President Trump, who compared Israel’s tiny size to the "small tip of a pen on a large White House table," Smotrich argued that Israel’s small borders leave no room for error. He warned that unless aggressive steps are taken across all fronts, future tragedies are inevitable, stating firmly that he would not bear responsibility for any recurrence of the security failures seen in the past.
Six Conditions for the Future of Gaza
Smotrich outlined six specific demands that he believes must define Israel’s stance toward the Gaza Strip:
- Full Demilitarization: No reconstruction of the enclave will be permitted until it is completely disarmed.
- Total Annihilation of Hamas: Israel must ensure the terror group is no longer an existing entity.
- No Palestinian Authority: Smotrich rejected any role for the PA in Gaza, whether direct or indirect.
- No Multinational Forces: He opposed the deployment of international troops in areas Israel considers under its security responsibility.
- A Strict Deadline: A short window should be set for the diplomatic dismantling of Hamas, after which Israel will take unilateral military action.
- No Israeli Funding: The Finance Minister declared that Israel will not pay for the rehabilitation of the territory.
Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria
Moving beyond the Gaza front, Smotrich called on the Prime Minister to raise the status of Judea and Samaria during the Miami summit. He argued that the lessons of October 7 have not been fully applied to these territories and reiterated his view that the Oslo Accords were a catastrophic error. He demanded the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, the mass collection of weapons in Palestinian areas, and the immediate application of Israeli sovereignty over the region.
Fighting the Cost of Living
On the domestic front, the Finance Minister touted the 2026 state budget as a major tool in the fight against high consumer prices. He highlighted several key reforms aimed at breaking monopolies, including the dairy reform, which aims to lower prices of milk and cheese, and an import reform to remove bureaucratic hurdles for consumer goods. Smotrich also noted the importance of banking and deposit reforms to increase competition. "The basic principle of the budget is that the cost of living is not a decree of fate," Smotrich stated, promising that these measures would prove that the Israeli market can and will become more affordable for its citizens.
