Uri Ariel
Uri ArielHillel Meir

Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday night that he would not vote in favor of the coming year's budget if the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are not normalized.

Earlier, MK Bezalel Smotrich made a similar threat when he said "A true right-winger would not sit in a government which would demolish Amona."

Speaking at the conference of the National Union party in Jerusalem Sunday night, Ariel said that "there will be only one sovereign power between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and that is the State of Israel. If there is no solution (to save Amona) then we are justified in causing a coalition crisis, including voting against the budget."

"We're not threatening." Ariel explained. "That's why voters choose us."

Ariel also said that the right's greatest strength was in unity, so it was imperative that the Jewish Home and National Union parties remain together.

"The Likud would be very happy if we split up." he explained.

Ariel 's criticism was not limited to the Prime Minister. He also attacked Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman's 'carrots and sticks' approach to the Arabs in Judea and Samaria. "It's sticks for the settlers and carrots to everyone else. This plan has been tried before and it didn't work. He who is merciful to the cruel will in the end be cruel to the merciful, [said our Sages]."

Ariel vowed to "continue to fight for the Kotel, Shabbat, and the Temple Mount which is the center of our lives."