Bezalel Smotrich

But what is Israel’s long-term policy in the Gaza Strip? There was short-lived enthusiasm both by Netanyahu and the rest of the government about Trump’s Middle East Riviera program in Feb 2025.

One person was killed, and five others were wounded in the attack, which began at Kochav Yair and continued on past Tsur Yitshak, Tsur Natan, and Selait.

There could be five races again with no coalition formed, as we had before, and we might end up staying in election mode for quite some time.

Reports cited Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who told reporters that he had heard from Ireland's Justice Ministry that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich had been banned.

Ben-Gvir, Eli Cohen, and other ministers called for harsher measures against Hezbollah, while Finance Minister Smotrich argued that a ceasefire under current conditions would be a major success.

The Knesset approved a bill granting tax benefits to West Bank settlements, with Finance Minister Smotrich calling it recognition for residents living under a security threat.

Netanyahu issued a statement shortly after the approval, naming the proposal as his and Smotrich's product, although the prime minister was absent for much of the approval meeting on Tuesday evening.

Smotrich’s surprise appearance at New York’s Israel Day Parade drew condemnation from city, state, and Jewish leaders, who said he was not invited to join the march.

Other senior Mossad officials are expected to follow suit in the coming days, KAN added. 

The minister is scheduled to return to Israel as early as Wednesday, after conducting an intensive marathon of meetings in the United States with key Latin American figures.