Ministers Oppose Netanyahu: "No Demilitarization, Only a Palestinian State"

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Settlements Orit Struck sent an urgent letter today, Monday, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding an immediate halt to the entry of multinational forces into the Gaza Strip and opposition to the agreement being formed under the auspices of the "Peace Council." The two are demanding an immediate convening of the Security Cabinet to block the implementation of the "roadmap" and mandate an amendment to the outline to ensure it meets the goals of the war.

At the center of their letter, the ministers argue that the Cabinet decision approving the entry of the multinational force was based on incorrect information. According to them, the official document published by the Peace Council over the weekend differs significantly from the outline presented to the ministers in previous discussions. Smotrich and Struck warn that without immediate action, the outline will create a dangerous security reality that will tie the hands of the IDF and contradict the goal of dismantling Hamas.

The ministers point to a series of critical gaps, primarily the lack of real demilitarization of the Strip:

1. According to the roadmap, weapons and tunnels will not be destroyed or removed from Gaza, but will be transferred to the responsibility of a new Arab body (NCAG), with an explicit provision that they will not be transferred to Israel.

2. Contrary to the Cabinet's position that the IDF withdrawal would only occur after full demilitarization, the document establishes a gradual Israeli withdrawal in parallel with the demilitarization process.

Another issue raising opposition is the application of Palestinian Authority law in the Strip. The ministers warn that this implies the establishment of a government operating under a legal system that rewards terrorists through payment mechanisms. In this way, even Hamas members dismissed from their positions would continue to receive salaries, creating a bypass mechanism for the continued funding of the organization.

Regarding the multinational force (ISF), the ministers argue that its purpose differs from what was promised. Instead of acting to demilitarize the Strip against terrorist elements, the force will serve as a buffer between the IDF and the new Arab body, effectively monitoring Israel's activity. In addition, the document establishes a new oversight mechanism—an International Verification Committee (IVC)—whose member countries have not yet been determined, raising concerns about the inclusion of hostile elements.

"The roadmap openly sets the establishment of a Palestinian state as a political goal, a move defined by us as an existential threat to Israel," the ministers stated.

In conclusion, they demand that Netanyahu officially announce that Israel rejects the current version and will not allow the entry of the forces until dramatic changes are made to the outline.