Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich stated Thursday at the Tzomet Institute and Makor Rishon conference "Halacha in the Technological Era" that sovereignty represents the test. If Saudi Arabia proposes normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, then "Friends no thank you, continue riding camels on the sands in the desert in Saudi Arabia.. we will continue to develop our economy and society and the state and great things we know how to do." He added that the "bride [in any regional deal] is the State of Israel in its entire borders, who will never establish a Palestinian state."
Regarding Shas's departure from the government coalition, he said he lost patience long ago with these games. He said government could complete serve out its term but there is no such thing as being in the coalition while not being in it, and the coalition failing to pass laws, there is a country that requires governance. There is no such thing as continuing to control ministries remotely through associates while actually being outside, he noted.
Video: Smotrich speaks about Saudi normalization / Credit: GoLive
He said that he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "Either succeed in resolving the conscription issue with a genuine law and change the abnormal reality that Haredim do not participate in army service, or go to elections. This story must end quickly."
