If Israel-Hamas deal enters 2nd phase, we'll quit govt, says Netanyahu's far-right ally

The Religious Zionism party, one of the two far-right allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has said it will quit the government if the ceaseire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas enters the second phase.

As per the deal reached between Israel and Hamas, a select category of hostages were to be released in the first phase lasting 42 days in lieu of several hundreds of Palestinian prisoners’ release by Israel. In the second, all hostages are to be released. The far-right parties are opposed to the deal.

Religious Zionism’s Moshe Solomon, who is the deputy speaker of the parliament, has said that if the war does not resume when after the 42nd day, the party will quit the government, according to Israel’s Maariv newspaper.

Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich has also made similar threats in the past . He is the Finance Minister of Israel.

The other far-right party’s leader, Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit, has already resigned in protest. He was the National Security Minister.

Solomon said that that the opportunity to restart the war is an “unprecedented opportunity” that the government must realise.

“I expect [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] and Cabinet to fulfil their commitment where we complete phase 1 of the deal and act with military force against the Hamas terror organisation. I believe this is how we can bring back the hostages who are there. Currently, phase 1 has ended with everything that was promised, despite Hamas’s violations," said Solomon, according to Maariv.

As Netanyahu depends on Religions Zionism for the survival of his government, as his Likud party does not have parliamentary majority of its own, it is understood that Netanyahu will break the deal after the first phase to keep his government intact. While such a belief had been there since before Donald Trump took over, the belief had got stronger since he took over as he has taken a very pro-Netanyahu stand. With his plan for the United States to acquire the Gaza Strip, he has essentially killed the two-state solution for Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

Will Netanyahu’s govt fall? Or will he resume war?

In theory, Netanyahu’s government can fall if Smotrich and Ben-Gvir withdraw support, but there are signs that they will strike a deal.

In the 120-member Israeli parliament, Netayahu’s coalition has 68 members. His Likud party has 32 members.

Currently, Ben-Gvir with his seven members is supporting the government from outside the coalition despite quitting the government and the coalition. Even as he is supporting the government, the effective strength of Netanyahu’s coalition is 61. If Smotrich and his fellow members, six in total, quit the coalition, Netanyahu’s government will fall lose the majority. However, Ben-Gvir has previously indicated that even though he has quit the coalition, he would not let the government fall and would keep supporting the government from outside the coalition.

There has also previously been signs that Smotrich and Netanyahu have reached an understanding.

Last month, The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu has agreed to break the deal and resume the war after the 42nd day to keep Smotrich in the coalition.

The Post further reported that Netanyahu has also accepted Smotrich’s demand to control and restrict the flow of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza and to attack Gaza with weapons heavier than those used so far in the war.