The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet met on Sunday to deal with various developments on the northern border and the situation with the Palestinians, including on request made by the Biden administration. During the meeting, clear disagreements emerged between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the one hand, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on the other hand over whether Israel should use more stringent measures in light of the recent terrorist attacks, resulting criticism waged on the US over its conduct toward Israel's government.
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The forum decided to suspend debt collection from Ramallah for another year. Ministers were presented with a host of other steps that would prevent the Palestinian Authority from collapsing financially, including the transfer of tax revenue Israel collects on its behalf and expanding the Taraqomia Industrial Zone, and expanding the operating hours of the Allenby Crossing from Jordan. Some of the measures were approved.
Video: IDF forces hunt down terrorists in Judea and Samaria / Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Section 27a
Netanyahu rejected Ben-Gvir and Smotrich's demand that the ministers hold a vote, telling them that he would make the decision on his own in consultation with the defense minister and security establishment.
Smotrich went out against the decision to give the Palestinian temporary debt relief for a year, saying that as far as he was concerned "it won't happen on my watch," adding that as finance minister he would not sign off on any measure that would help the PA financially.
Sources in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet told Israel Hayom in the wake of the reports that the request to help the PA financially had come from the Biden administration that "the US can't have it both ways with Smotrich: They must decide if he is a partner or not; they can't boycott him and expect him to play along." The source added, no American request had reached Smotrich's desk.
In response to Smotrich's protestations, Netanyahu said he would explain things privately when they met.
When Ben-Gvir also made similar comments that criticized the measures to help the PA despite the ongoing terrorist wave, Netanyahu said that "there is a need to stabilize the PA."
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