Nearly two years have passed with them deteriorating in Hamas tunnels. Nearly two years have passed with an entire nation trapped in trauma. Nearly two years have passed without anyone in the government conducting discussions about "the day after," resembling someone fleeing from devastating news, while increasing numbers of families receive the most devastating news possible.

The moment has arrived for a courageous decision that will bring back all hostages in a single operation, terminate the war and end bloodshed on both sides. Hamas deserves no reward for the horrific October 7 assault, but what remained unaccomplished during two years of warfare will not be remedied through additional months of stagnation and casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly declares Israel represents the region's strongest power, so what exactly does he fear?

His fear does not stem from possibilities that Israel might be compelled to return and fight again. The military possesses that capability. Netanyahu fears his government's collapse. Threats from his ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich that stopping the war would dissolve the Knesset Coalition frighten Netanyahu more than global escalation against us. This includes possibilities that during his visit to the UN General Assembly's annual conference, a resolution might pass recognizing a Palestinian state. The individual who spent years preventing Palestinian state establishment has prepared the foundation for that silver platter and will now impose it upon us under disadvantageous and uncontrolled circumstances.

Decades of bloodshed

Opponents of reaching a Gaza agreement argue it will produce future murderous attacks on our communities. According to their claims, October 7 resulted from the 2005 Gaza Disengagement. That 2005 unilateral withdrawal elevated Hamas to power and strengthened it through dollars flowing to it with Israeli consent and encouragement.

This week marks 20 years since the disengagement. Numerous assessments mostly suffered from excessive nostalgia. Perhaps through forgetfulness, they avoided tallying Gush Katif settlement casualties, which began in 1973 and concluded in 2005. Sixteen Jewish communities, 8,600 settlers plus 600 additional Bedouins. Some 5,904 mortar shells and Qassam rockets were launched, primarily from Khan Younis, targeting Gush Katif. The Kisufim corridor, serving as the sole entry and exit route for the Gush, transformed into a blood-soaked highway, particularly following the First Intifada and intensifying during the second one. 282 Israeli civilians were murdered there while dozens of soldiers perished. Among images permanently seared into collective memory, soldiers appear crawling along the Philadelphi Corridor, searching for human remains of comrades killed in an armored personnel carrier by roadside explosives.

On July 23, 2005, following Sabbath spent with family members in Ganei Tal, my friends Rachel and Dov'le Kol departed the Gush. Due to shooting in the corridor vicinity, access was blocked. When the attackers remained unfound, they reopened the corridor. Ten vehicles at a time. Dov'le and Rachel, Jerusalem residents parenting three children, stood no chance when gunfire opened toward them. They died instantly. The Gush's final victims. Two weeks later, Disengagement commenced.

Today, Tisha B'Av 5785, this must be stated – enough casualties. Bring Rom, Evyatar and their companions home. The time has arrived.

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced his intention to continue subsidizing daycare for ultra-Orthodox families, despite objections from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Israel Hayom has learned. The dispute centers on funding for Haredi men of military draft age, underscoring ongoing tensions over ultra-Orthodox integration into the workforce and military service.

Smotrich fired off a detailed letter to Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon and Finance Ministry Legal Advisor Assi Messing. In it, he argued that canceling the daycare budget would severely hamper ultra-Orthodox women's entry into the workforce, impede the sector's job market integration, condemn it to poverty, and overstep their authority.

Smotrich expressed outrage that the decision was made between government lawyers without consulting him as finance minister. 

"It's astounding that you conduct discussions, exchange correspondence, and make far-reaching budgetary and economic decisions among yourselves without even considering it appropriate to involve the Finance Minister or seek his position. This is a state within a state," he wrote.

Smotrich contended that discussions without his involvement led to an erroneous decision. "The premise for this decision – that daycare subsidies are given to support the father's Torah study – is fundamentally flawed, based on a misinterpretation of the Supreme Court ruling on yeshiva funding after the conscription plan expired. This assumption is baseless. The subsidy has nothing to do with the father's Torah study. It's meant to incentivize mothers to enter the workforce by helping finance childcare," the letter said. "The subsidy's declared goal is to promote ultra-Orthodox women's integration into the job market. The government decided to extend it to mothers whose husbands study in yeshiva and aren't home. This practical decision recognizes a simple reality: in ultra-Orthodox families where fathers study Torah, mothers often stay home with children, even at the cost of poverty and a low standard of living."

The finance minister argued that daycare subsidies have successfully driven many ultra-Orthodox women into the workforce. "It's been an overwhelming success. The past two decades have seen a dramatic rise in ultra-Orthodox women's employment. One would have to be blind not to see the positive impacts on the economy, ultra-Orthodox society, and the nation as a whole," he wrote, contending that cutting daycare subsidies would deal a severe blow to the economy.

Smotrich demanded that the legal advisors "immediately retract your fundamentally flawed opinion. Allow me to continue my economic policy supporting growth and ultra-Orthodox women's workforce integration. Refrain from illegally and unreasonably sabotaging it and the economy. By virtue of my authority as finance minister, I'm ordering the continuation of daycare subsidies, per Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry criteria."

Anticipating a Supreme Court challenge, Smotrich wrote, "If you believe my decision is illegal, you're free to petition the Supreme Court. There, I'll demand independent representation."

The finance minister concludes with sharp criticism, "It's hard to escape the feeling that regarding the ultra-Orthodox public and its budgets, you're repeatedly driven by a hostile agenda that seeks every possible way to harm and obstruct. If only you'd invest a fraction of the energy you spend trying to cut ultra-Orthodox budgets in helping me prevent government funds from leaking to criminal organizations, in fighting black market capital, and more."

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich this week called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to take an official stance against the United States rejoining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that has a reiterated bias against Israel.

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In a letter sent to Netanyahu as well as Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and obtained by Israel Hayom, Smotrich stressed that it was crucial to express opposition to the move as soon as possible – before President Joe Biden formally announces the move to Congress next month.

Smotrich gave several examples of anti-Israel bias, such as UNESCO declaring the Cave of the Patriarch in Hebron, where patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well as matriarch Sarah, Rebeccah, and Leah are buried, a Palestinian – rather than Jewish – heritage site. He also criticized the organization for marking the so-called Nakba Day, when Palestinians mourn the "catastrophe" of the establishment of the State of Israel.

He wrote, "The US withdrew from UNESCO under the Trump administration, among other things, at the Israeli government's requests, due to the organization's hostility, which rewrites history and denies the Jewish people's deep historical connection to the land."

Smotrich stressed that while the previous Israeli government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid gave its consent to the US rejoining UNESCO, that is certainly not the case with the current leadership.

"It goes without saying that Israel's consent plays a central role in this case … Support for an organization that twists history is not in line with the government's Zionist and right-wing vision."

Smotrich also said that Israel's support for the move should be conditioned on the removal of the Palestinian Authority from UNESCO.

Last December, Congress approved a bill to allocate over $500 million to pay the US debt to UNESCO and allow its return as a full member. The US plans to rejoin the organization in July.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced during a Cabinet meeting Sunday a decision to make it easier to obtain permits to build inside Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

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At the same time, it was announced that the Civil Administration's Higher Planning Committee is set to meet on June 26, in order to approve 4,560 new housing units in communities throughout the region.

The Cabinet also transferred most of the authority to approve such construction to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry and thus plays an important role in overseeing civilian life in Judea and Samaria via the latter ministry's Civil Administration.

"The construction boom in Judea and Samaria and in all parts of our country continues. As we promised, today we are advancing the construction of thousands more new units in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich said Sunday. "Judea and Samaria residents cease to be second-class citizens and the natural development in settlements is reflected in construction and expansion."

The US State Department said it was "deeply troubled" by the move, and called on Israel to return to dialogue aimed at de-escalation.

"As has been longstanding policy, the United States opposes such unilateral actions that make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve and are an obstacle to peace," department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Since entering office in January, Netanyahu's Coalition has approved over 7,000 new housing units in Judea and Samaria. It also amended a law to clear the way for Israelis to return to four settlements that had previously been evacuated.

In response to the decision, the Palestinian Authority said it would boycott a meeting of the Joint Economic Committee with Israel scheduled for Monday. The Hamas terror group also condemned the move, saying it will "resist it by all means."

 JNS.org contributed to this report.

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After the passing of the state budget, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be required to return to an issue that has been on hold for two months – the judicial reform and negotiations over the controversial legislation led by President Isaac Herzog.

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After a long series of talks between the parties, the situation is starting to become clearer.

The Opposition is ready to compromise on one component of the reform, the law pertaining to the attorney general, which will allow MKs to receive private representation in petitions rather than being represented by the attorney general.

In exchange, the committee for the selection of judges will convene in its current format, without any changes, and the Coalition will pledge not to make any changes to it during the current government. In addition, they will also pledge not to promote any legal-administrative measures without consensus.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Chair of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Simcha Rotman, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and other Coalition members are pushing to pass at least some of the bills during the current summer session, even if doing so would constitute a unilateral move.

Netanyahu will need to decide whether to comply with the demand of his Coalition partners or the Opposition. If he decides on the former, he will draw the ire of the Opposition, who might go back on any promises of a compromise and call for the reform to be stopped completely. If the chooses the latter, he will be risking the safety of his Coalition as members threatened to leave unless the judicial reform is promoted further.

Political officials understand that reaching a decision and a breakthrough in the talks in the near future is vital.

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Netanyahu on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to reaching a compromise on the legislation.

"We will of course continue with our efforts to arrive at a broad consensus agreement, to the extent possible, on the issue of judicial reform," he said in a video message published to social media. "I believe with goodwill and real will it's possible to come to agreements that will serve all citizens of Israel."

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A strike by municipalities in protest of the government plan by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to transfer funds from wealthier cities to less affluent ones entered its second day on Tuesday.

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The Federation of Local Authorities, which represents around 200 municipalities, launched the open-ended strike on Monday, and included cities like Tel Aviv, Holon, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Kfar Saba, Ra'anana, Rishon Lezion, Herzliya, Hod Hasharon, Modi'in, Ramle, Ness Ziona, Ashdod, Hadera, Haifa, Nesher, Beit She'an, Kiryat Ono, Shoham, Ganei Tikva, Yokne'am, Maale Gilboa and Eilat.

Several regional councils were also reportedly participating in the strike, which is affecting basic services for residents and shuttering the education system. Jerusalem, Lod, Ashkelon and Harish are not participating.

At issue is a proposed business property tax fund that would see wealthier municipalities subsidize lower-income communities to incentivize the construction of affordable housing. The Knesset's Finance Committee on Sunday approved the inclusion of the "Arnona Fund" as part of the Arrangements Bill presented alongside the 2023-2024 state budget. The Arrangements Bill includes the government's economic priorities.

"This law is not acceptable to the Federation of Local Authorities," Modi'in-Maccabim-Reut Mayor Haim Bibas said on Sunday, according to Arutz Sheva. "We oppose it and have opposed it from the beginning. It is contrary to any concept of municipal rule and central government-municipal government relations."

Smotrich, the head of the Religious Zionist Party, stood firm following the start of the shutdown, saying at a press conference that "we will not give in to threats and blackmail and will act professionally for the benefit of the State of Israel and the citizens of Israel," Channel 12 reported.

"We must not give in to threats and violence. We are on the way to major struggles against tremendous market forces that concentrate in their hands a tremendous power that we are going to take from them – to break up centralization and monopolies," the minister continued.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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An estimated 20,000 Israelis marched on Monday, along with seven ministers and 17 coalition lawmakers, to the West Bank settler outpost of Evyatar in protest of recent terror attacks.

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Among the marchers were National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.

"We are here not to give in to terrorism, we do not give in to terrorism in Evyatar nor in Tel Aviv. If we give in to terrorism here, we will give into terrorism everywhere in Israel," Ben-Gvir told i24NEWS.

The marchers' aim was to re-establish the Evyatar outpost after it was forcibly evicted two years ago. The trek started from Tapuach Junction and traveled across West Bank roads in order to reach the outpost by foot. Over a hundred buses brought the participants to the meeting location, and inflatable bouncy houses were installed to entertain children.

Daniella Weiss, head of the Nehala Settlement Movement, told i24NEWS that "when the enemies see that we are not afraid, that we walk around with our children, with our grandchildren, our enemies know we are a strong nation, strong people, and that terror doesn't terrorize us."

Security officials reportedly were against the planned action in locations that have often been flashpoints for violence, according to Haaretz, but the government decided to let the march commence. Israeli security forces were claimed to already be "spread thin" by Palestinian attacks on multiple fronts.

The report also revealed that an entire army battalion was used to secure the event, rather than participating in the manhunt for the perpetrators of a deadly attack that claimed the lives of daughters Maya and Rina Dee and their mother in a terror attack in the Jordan Valley on Friday.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Earlier Monday, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu had been holding consultations about whether or not to fire Smotrich, who also heads the National Union faction in the United Right, over harsh criticism that Smotrich levelled at Netanyahu on Sunday.

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Smotrich called Netanyahu "weak" after the latter decided to cancel an event for the haredi sector in Afula, which was scheduled to be held with completely separate seating for men and women.

A few Likud officials told Israel Hayom that "Smotrich went too far."

"True, we're in an election, and everyone has to sharpen their message to their voters, but Smotrich went too far. There is a way to speak about the prime minister, even in a situation like this," the officials said.

On Twitter, Smotrich said, "This is a stupid legal system. I'm sorry, but despite my status, I can't find a gentler world. Progressive, fundamentalist, stupidity … the prime minister is weak. 100% of this nonsense is happening on his watch. Zero leadership. Zero governance. Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber [who has publicly backed a High Court ruling against gender-based separation at public events] is the real prime minister."

Smotrich went on to tweet that he urged the leaders of the nation's religious and haredi parties to "inform the prime minister, today, that they will make joining any future government under him conditional on making the necessary changes to the law to stop the 'secular coercion' and allow the religious public to live according to its beliefs."

Approximately an hour later, Smotrich tweeted again, somewhat softening his tone toward Netanyahu.

"I realize that there are some who were offended by the tweet on behalf of the prime minister. I'm one of those who never stops praising his diplomatic capabilities. But he can't be given credit for what is good here and exempted from responsibility for what is bad. For 10 years he has allowed the court system to destroy our wonderful country," Smotrich tweeted.

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Amir Ohana's appointment on Wednesday came as Netanyahu heads an interim government following the dissolution of parliament last week. The prime minister also faces a hearing before the attorney general over corruption allegations and possible indictment.

Ohana is an ardent Netanyahu backer and has voiced support for a bill to grant a seated prime minister immunity from prosecution.

It remains unclear how, if at all, Ohana's appointment could impact the cases against the prime minister.

With his appointment, Ohana also becomes Israel's first openly gay cabinet member.

"An attorney and jurist, MK Ohana is very familiar with the justice system. He holds a Bachelor degree in Law and previously worked for the State Attorney's Office (Central District). He worked as an attorney for a decade and appeared in various courts throughout the country. As an MK, he has led a series of laws including Basic Law: Nation-State of the Jewish People," the Prime Minister's Office said on its website.

A statement from Ohana said, "As a Jew, as an Israeli, as a partner of the love of my life Alon Hadad, as a father to Ella and David, who are my family, as a Mizrahi, as a member of Likud and as a liberal (yes, all of those!), and after thousands of hours as a litigator, it is a great privilege to serve the State of Israel as justice minister. I thank the prime minister for the tremendous trust, and thank you to all those who have sent their congratulations."

Ohana's appointment has rattled the United Right faction, as National Union leader Bezalel Smotrich was eyeing the justice portfolio.

Smotrich, however, sparked controversy on Monday when he declared that he would like to see Israeli judiciary defer to Halacha, or Jewish law, adding, "Israel will go back to being run as it was during the days of King David and King Solomon – according to the law of the Torah."

The statement caused a political and public firestorm, which many decrying what they called the Smotrich's outright plan to endorse religion coercion.

Netanyahu on Monday rejected Smotrich call to govern Israel according to Jewish law, stating, "Israel will not become a state of Halacha.

During May's coalition negotiations, which failed to produce a government, United Right had originally demanded the justice portfolio for Smotrich and the education portfolio for Habayit Hayehudi leader Rafi Peretz.

With the Justice Ministry now spoken for, Smotrich and Peretz are reportedly at odds over who should get the education portfolio.

In March, Netanyahu stated that he plans to keep the education portfolio in Likud's hands, but it is believed he is likely to tap Peretz.

Still, under the faction agreement between National Union and Habayit Hayehudi, Smotrich was given the right of first refusal to any portfolio the faction was offered, but on Wednesday, an associate of Peretz said that there was "absolutely no way" that the former chief military rabbi would cede the Education Ministry to Smotrich.

Peretz's camp has also accused Smotrich of instigating fights with Netanyahu, which they said have caused the prime minister to lose faith in Smotrich and perhaps in the United Right altogether.

In a statement released after learning of Ohana's appointment, Smotrich said, "Amir Ohana is a friend and a worthy person, and of course I wish him great success, but he's not the story here. The story is Netanyahu, who wouldn't dare treat any of his other [political] partners as he treats the religious Zionist camp. It's time we drew the necessary conclusions."

Sources in the religious Zionist camp said that "the ball is in Netanyahu's court. He has to show us that he sees the religious Zionist camp as a respected partner."

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"Israel will not become a state of Halachah [Jewish law,]" Netanyahu said.

Yair Lapid, co-leader of the centrist Blue and White party, also lashed out at Smotrich, who is seeking the justice portfolio.

"No, no, we won't let this pass. There won't be a state here ruled by Halachah," Lapid said.

Smotrich said Monday that "the Jewish people will want [it]. They'll see how the law of the Torah is correct and just and moral and humane. Israel will go back to being run as it was during the days of King David and King Solomon – according to the law of the Torah."

Yisrael Beytenu leader and former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman compared Smotrich to the "delusional hilltop youths" in Jewish settlements, and warned that Smotrich meant what he said.

"This is a statement of intent," Lieberman said.

Leader of the left-wing Meretz party Tamar Zandberg said that Smotrich's remarks had "removed the mask" and uncovered his "insane vision," which she compared to "a theocracy in the vein of 'The Handmaid's Tale" [TV series].

This article was originally published by i24NEWS.

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