Netanyahu shouted so loudly after Smotrich’s camel remark they nearly called a doctor
Liberman said Netanyahu erupted at Smotrich over his camel remark, fearing it would harm efforts to reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted with such fury to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s recent camel remark that aides feared he might collapse, MK Avigdor Liberman claimed Sunday.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that if Saudi Arabia demands a Palestinian state as the price for normalization with Israel, it can “keep riding camels in the Saudi desert,” on Thursday.
“Someone who was in the room told me that after Smotrich’s comment about the camels, the shouting from the Prime Minister’s Office could be heard in Kedumim and all the settlements in Samaria,” Liberman said in an interview with Walla.
“Bibi screamed. They wanted to call a doctor because they feared he would faint,” he said. “No one has heard shouting like that since the Prime Minister’s Office was established. It is no coincidence that Smotrich rushed to apologize. Netanyahu is counting on an agreement withSaudi Arabia.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich attend a discussion and a vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, February 7, 2024. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Criticism of US involvement in Gaza war decisions
Liberman also credited former US president Donald Trump for progress on the hostage issue, while criticizing Israel’s current lack of autonomy in the Gaza conflict.
“We need to thank Trump for bringing back the living hostages and some of the bodies. He deserves huge credit,” he said. “But we also need to understand that the Americans have completely removed from the October 7 government the ability to make decisions about strikes in Gaza.”
He alleged that the IDF cannot carry out any strike in Gaza without American approval. Any attempt to reduce humanitarian supplies also requires American approval. He claimed that everything is being managed from an American operations room in Kiryat Gat.
Liberman said American drones are monitoring Gaza in real time, and that the IDF is operating under the command of that operations room.
“It is no coincidence that [US National Security Advisor Jake] Sullivan came to the Kirya and met with the General Staff and the chief of staff,” he added. “This is unprecedented.”
Additional goods crossing to open, Liberman claims
Liberman also said that Israel plans to open a third goods crossing into the Gaza Strip this week.
“Today, two border crossings are operating. This week, they are opening a third one at Zikim to increase humanitarian aid,” he said.
He added that officials at the Rafah crossing are affiliated with the Palestinian Authority.
“That is the truth. Everything else is nonsense,” he said. “The only organization actively operating inside Gaza is UNRWA.”
‘Stop fooling around’
Responding to criticism that he supports a “deal at any price,” Liberman said the coalition’s promises of independence from the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA were false.
“Correct,” he said of the accusation. “But the coalition said there would be no Palestinian Authority and no UNRWA. We are independent. At least don’t lie. This is the price. These are the facts. Stop fooling around.”
He further claimed that Hamas is delaying the return of the bodies of hostages, while simultaneously strengthening its control over the Gaza Strip.
“Hamas is stalling in returning the bodies, and with each passing day, it tightens its control on the ground,” he said. “All this talk about demilitarizing Gaza or disarming Hamas is nonsense. This government is busy confusing people. In reality, the opposite of what they said they would do is happening.”
