Bezalel Smotrich
Bezalel SmotrichMiriam Alster/Flash90

MK Betzalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) sharply criticized Finance Committee Chairman MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) Tuesday, after the latter removed from the agenda a number of urgent requests regarding communities in the Gaza belt region and Judea-Samaria. 

"Gafni forgot he's part of a coalition and continues to represent the Opposition," Smotrich fired. "Most of the budgetary transfers, such as the Law of the Settlement Division that he is still stuck upon, are part of the coalition agreements to which Gafni and his UTJ party are committed." 

"This conduct, in which he is stalling on coalition agreements in moves against Jewish Home, is irresponsible, dishonest and not suitable as a coalition partner," Smotrich continued. "If the coalition cannot cause him to respect the rules it will not function."

"Until things remain unresolved there will be no votes on anything," he added. "Jewish home will not be the coalition's abused child, we will not leave important issues at rest, and we will not be hostages to the whims of a tiny politician

 looking to cause trouble." 

MK Rachel Azariah (Kulanu) rebuked Smotrich for the stance, claiming he was making a big deal out of partisan issues.

"As a religious woman, I'm saying that you're shaming the kippah on your head," she stated. "Stop pressuring the State over a number of small communities. They don't deserve more than anyone else does in this country. Everyone in the coalition thinks this and they're getting tired of this."