First publication: Chairman of the Religious Zionist Party and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich claims that the security forces have not yet understood the consequences of the Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel on the security situation in Judea and Samaria.
In conversation with the party leaders, the minister said: "I think that there has been enormous progress, at least in the cabinet, at the political level, when I announced that I refuse to agree to the transfer of funds [to the Palestinian Authority]. It was floating on the cabinet table, and reached the political level where I believe that a good decision was made, to deduct the amount that was supposed to be allocated to Gaza."
"The Palestinian Authority has said that it currently does not want this money and I of course do not regret it," he added.
On the situation in Judea and Samaria, he said: "Unfortunately, the penny hasn’t dropped yet for the high command of the army. The fact that they are allowing the harvest and the immense number of forces that are involved in this, instead of fighting terrorism, the fact that it is close to the Jewish communities and the main roads, is dangerous, harms the sense of security, and diverts forces and creates friction that could hurt us around the world, and this shows that the penny hasn’t dropped."
"I deal with this mainly behind closed doors, mainly with the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and other officials," stressed Minister Smotrich.