Israeli press review: Far-right minister clashes with army chief over aid

Far-right minister clashes with army chief

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich clashed with Israeli army chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, during an Israeli cabinet meeting held this week on the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza,

During the meeting, the chief of staff said that Israeli soldiers would "not distribute humanitarian aid, and we will not starve the Gaza Strip," referring to the demands of government ministers to take over aid distribution to the besieged enclave.

At this point, Smotrich attacked Zamir's remarks. 

"The army does not choose its missions. We have defined for you that you need to prepare for this. We will define the what, and you the how," he said. 

"If you can't, we'll bring someone who can. If you don't know how, we will find someone who knows."

In March, Israel completely halted humanitarian aid to the enclave. The total blockade of Gaza led the United Nations humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, last week to define the humanitarian situation there as "the worst it has been in the 18 months since the outbreak of hostilities".

Smotrich has been outspoken in the past about using the blocking of humanitarian aid as a tool to defeat Hamas.

"Over my dead body humanitarian aid will be delivered to Hamas," Smotrich said, while screaming at the chief of staff, according to several reports.

Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, said: "The government ministers are also attacking the new 'offensive' chief of staff they chose.

"It's time to recognise the facts: this government is incapable of winning the war."

Later Smotrich clarified his remarks. 

"I have no complaints against the chief of staff. My criticism is of the prime minister," he said.

"Continuing the military stagnation and delivering humanitarian aid to Hamas when the hostages are there is not an option.

"Opening a campaign to defeat Hamas, occupying Gaza and imposing a temporary military administration until another solution is found, returning the hostages and implementing the Trump plan, or this government has no right to exist."

Holocaust Day marked by anti-government anger

As Israel marked Holocaust Remembrance Day this week, families of hostages used the event to attack the government over their loved ones being still in Hamas captivity.

"Matan is going through a Holocaust at these moments. We are here and he is there," wrote Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker, who was captured by Hamas on 7 October.

"Even during the Holocaust, parents did everything to save their children, and even now we are doing everything to save our loved ones."

In another post, Zangaucker blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for her son's condition.

"The head of the Jewish state can rescue him, and he chooses not to, because he is taking revenge on me. It's the truth as it is."

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During the Hamas attack on 7 October, 255 Israeli and foreign citizens were abducted. So far, 196 hostages have been released. As part of the last ceasefire, which Israel unilaterally violated in March, 38 hostages were released. Fifty nine hostages are still in Hamas captivity, many of whom are believed to have died.

The family of Omri Miran, whose footage from captivity was published this week, said, "On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, when it is customary to say 'never again,' an Israeli citizen cries out for help from the Hamas tunnels.

"This is a disgrace to the State of Israel. Our Omri is strong and will not be broken, but our hearts are broken."

Kobi Ohel, the father of the captive Alon Ohel, fiercely criticised the Israeli government for not acting to release the remaining hostages.  

"The October 7 disaster is not a Holocaust," Ohel's father said, "but the feeling is the same – my family's fate then and today is unknown."

"Then the world knew and was silent. And today? The world knows and is silent. And the government? It, too, knows and is silent."

Controversy over torch-lighting ceremony

Next week, Israel will mark its 77th Independence Day with an official torch-lighting ceremony in Jerusalem, during which 12 torches will be lit by 12 people chosen by Transportation Minister Miri Regev.

Among those chosen by Regev are Emily Damari, a former Hamas captives, as well as athletes, musicians and more.

However, Regev has faced criticism from left and right for two of her choices: Ben Shapiro, a far-right Jewish-American media personality, and Israeli transgender singer Dana International.

'What independence are we celebrating, if Ben Shapiro is found fit by the Israeli government to light a torch on Independence Day?'

- Hila Mor-Zehavi, lawyer and social activist

Hila Mor-Zehavi, a lawyer and social activist, slammed the choice of Shapiro, "who refuses to recognise women's right to their bodies even in the case of pregnancy following rape. Who compares women who have abortions to murderers. That his attitude toward the LGBT community is disgraceful.

"Choosing him to light a torch is a slap in the face of half the country - what independence are we celebrating, if Ben Shapiro is found fit by the Israeli government to light a torch on Independence Day?" she said.

Right-wing critics focused on the choice of Dana International. Two right-wing organisations appealed to Regev to cancel the invite to the singer.

"What has Dana International done for the State of Israel?" the organisations wrote in a letter to the minister. 

"What will she say? That she did a sex reassignment surgery? That she encourages children to do the same?

"Choosing someone who identifies as trans – that is, a man who claims to be a woman – as a national symbol on Independence Day has a very dangerous message for the youth.

"In such a ceremony, there is no place for a figure whose entire symbolism is a transition between genders, and not a unique contribution to society, the [Israeli army], or national values."