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A NUMBER OF Israeli MPs have threatened to resign from Cabinet if it ratifies a “reckless” ceasefire deal with Hamas, but this would not likely scupper the controversial agreement.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister and head of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Power, has threatened to leave his cabinet post along with other cabinet members in protest over the deal.
His resignation from that position would be more of a symbolic move rather than a consequential blow to the cabinet’s ability to implement the ceasefire.
This is due to his unwillingness to completely withdraw his party from the coalition as doing so in conjunction with other dissenting parties would topple the delicate balance of power in Netanyahu’s slim majority government, which Ben-Gvir promises he does not intend to do.
He addressed the agreement in a televised statement yesterday in which he claimed it will undo all progress made in Israel’s 15-month bombardment of Gaza.
“The deal that is taking shape is a reckless deal,” he said, stating that it would “erase the achievements of the war” by permitting the release of Palestinian militants, many of whom have been convicted of terrorist offences, back into the ranks of Hamas.
“If this irresponsible deal is approved and implemented, we the members of Jewish Power will submit letters of resignation to the prime minister.”
Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party, Bezalel Smotrich, is also on record as having made mild threats to pull his party from the coalition entirely, a move which could doom the government and thus derail the ceasefire.
However, there is no evidence that these threats are substantial.
The conditions of the ceasefire were agreed upon by Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Doha on Wednesday and were approved this morning by Netanyahu’s security cabinet which endorsed the deal as supporting “achieving the war objectives”.
It is expected to be further ratified by Netanyahu’s 34-member parliamentary cabinet in a vote later today, ensuring its implementation from Sunday.
In the first phase of the “permanent” agreement announced by the Qatari Prime Minister on Wednesday, 33 of the 94 remaining Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza will be exchanged for the release by Israel of several hundred Palestinian prisoners.
This first phase is projected to last six weeks from Sunday, during which both sides will refrain from armed conflict.
The deal also stipulates that Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza.
Ben-Gvir has also called for all flows of humanitarian aid to Gaza to be “completely stopped”.
Ben-Gvir’s calls coincided with large public protests in Jerusalem by bereaved families of dead hostages on Wednesday and Thursday which took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in opposition to the deal.
Why has Israel delayed agreeing to the deal?
On Thursday, the day after the ceasefire was agreed, Netanyahu claimed that he would delay his cabinet’s vote after he alleged that Hamas was “reneging” on the terms set out between both parties during negotiations.
Gaza’s civil defence reports that the subsequent resumption of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have claimed the lives of 113 Palestinians, including 28 children and 31 women, within hours of the initial agreement being made.
A statement by Netanyahu’s office said on Thursday: “Hamas is reneging on the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that is preventing an agreement,” delaying his cabinet’s meeting to discuss the issue.
The statement added: “The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement.”
The BBC reports that a demand by Hamas to add certain additional names to the agreed list of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel was a significant element responsible for the delay in the cabinet vote.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Israel’s version of events, describing the contentious issue as a simple “loose end” which will be tied up in time for the implementation of the ceasefire which had been hoped to begin on Sunday.
If Netanyahu’s cabinet votes in favour of the deal, it would represent the most significant breakthrough in securing peace between Israel and Hamas.
Due to kick in on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, it will allow for the gradual return of all Israeli hostages and the beginning of a rebuild of Gaza estimated to cost €18 billion.
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How is this a meaningful pilot?! 130,000 at Indy 500 race event recently. Tens of thousands at concerts in UK with no masks or social distancing and no resultant impact. Looking at the photo there’s more social distancing and less attendees than your average supermarket run. And it’s outdoors. Grand job.
@Toon Army: A pointless exercise alright.
I know the photos here don’t show their faces, but judging by the back of their heads…. there’s way to little panic and fear on the faces of this crowd. I for one would like to see a bit slower transition to stupidity. I hope these people will be put into 4 weeks quarantine, with an altar to Tony H. and Tedros. They can reflect on their blatant disregard of roadmap to accelerate the deterioration of everyone’s mental health. Hopefully flu season comes quicker this winter, so we can get back to our cells.
Is it just me, but I’ve never heard of James Vincent McMorrow. Love the Beatles though
@Declan O’Farrell: guess it’s just your ignorance of not knowing who he is. Your loss really, a great artist.
@Éanna Canavan: Just you Deco .Good man. Anything for a daily cesspit Journal daily rant hey. Same aul culprits. Sados.
@Éanna Canavan: It’s not a loss, it is an opportunity to discover new music, I haven’t heard of James myself but have been listening to his stuff on Spotify, I like it, it’s very much evening sunset, gentle breeze in the garden type of music, I’m crap at describing.
It is a perfect evening for it though!
@Declan O’Farrell: nope, it ain’t just you
@Declan O’Farrell: You’re better off leaving it that way. He’s nothing to write home about. As the 5 or so people who were allowed to attend this concert will no doubt tell you.
@Gavin Mckenna: Calm down like. I haven’t heard either. No need for the aggressive response
@Éanna Canavan: why is do you consider it ignorance that he doesn’t know who the guy is?
@Roy Dowling: ignorance is bliss
@Declan O’Farrell: I never heard of him either Declan.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: You can grow mint, and put carnatians up through it. You could put in a bit of clover and let the creeping buttercup make it’s way. You could put down a whole fence of privet and encourage the clematis to find its passage. You could do anything really.
@Declan O’Farrell: me too
@Gavin Mckenna: Jaysus calm down. In fairness your response is way over the top. I never heard of him till today either. And I’m not really bothered about it I just hope the audience enjoyed the concert.
@Declan O’Farrell: I never heard of him until recently, but I listened to his music on Spotify and now I am a fan.
@Declan O’Farrell: id say James was delighted with the upswing in numbers from those attending his previous gigs…
@Éanna Canavan: quickly youtubed him. Very boring.
Will be lovely night but no antigen test means no learning from pilot as if asymptomatic spreads to asymptomatic who could spread to a work places . it’s aerosolised in air so heaps of hand sanitiser stations missing the point completely . it’s masks , distance and I would say antigen test that means safe experience . So if someone is positive afterwards it will means much contact tracing and man power .why must we be different to other countries on this .
@Mary O Dwyer: the data was already collected from UK studies so no need for it to be done again
@Peter Beegan: But we are doing it again.. Starting at much lower numbers. If we were to take learnings from those pilots (which effectively showed no increase in transmission) we would have started piloting larger attendances.
@Toon Army: I agree with you, it contradicts itself saying we don’t need to test because the data is there but won’t allow larger attendance, makes no sense
@Peter Beegan: And they were all in pods away from each other, one way systems everywhere, all wearing masks on the way in, they would learn more testing Stephen’s green on a Friday afternoon, completely pointless exercise and the report will be completed in 2 weeks time and then we can increase the attendance to 1000 next summer.
Looks like a watse of time, why we having people stay in grids when the rest of the world is having proper outdoor events
It’s a disgrace that these highly skilled pilots are reduced to busking for a few quid #opentheairports
@Joe Ivers: meh.
What an opportunity it would have been to use rapid antigen testing. They work. The public is the best defence against Covid. 15 minute results. We could have the country open along with large gatherings with them like other countries. As Professor Mina said yesterday to the Transport Committee, they are not a replacement for PCR. They are a compliment. They WILL pick up Covid at a time when you will spread it. That’s the time we need it. Not this 72 hours before a flight nonsense as he said. You need rapid, up to date information. If you come back positive, by all means go for a PCR and let the contract tracing then do their work.
The absolute state of that. Claire Byrne should have brought her bubbles along while they were at it. Mandated fun. In a triangle. Behind a rope.
@chinaski: and no alcohol ……a pilot of how to have gigs again in Ireland but no alcohol….ireland is embarrassingly backwards sometimes
Jeez, the most boring yawn making event by the looks of the separated crowd. Is this really wat we have to look forward to.. Rather watch paint dry. Super yawn…..
They might let 501 in at a gig next summer.
Terrible music …. bring back covid
Looks as atmospheric as mass on Sunday
A bit underwhelming!!!
So I’m guessing the people that attended will have to be on a contact register, I don’t know why they didn’t do antragine testing before & after then maybe they’d have some ideas as to how it went.
Where’s the crowd?
The mosh pit looks a little tame.
Embarrassing carry on. As usual we’re months behind everyone else.
They’re giving hoolahan awards, he’s the reason we see situations like the above when he refuses to endorse the use of antigen testing against what the majority now say is a sound tact.
Great to see.
Looks as atmospheric as mass on Sunday
Fantastic set, thank journal for the link !! For anyone on here saying they never heard of James, here’s a tip.. let new music into your world – your life will be the better for it . X
How does one get into those lol?
@Saz Johnson: over the wall
Id say the chance of snogged a stranger is remote.
A crowd surfers nightmare.
GREAT TO SEE LIVE MUSIC BACK
@Eamonn Tierney: It isnt back, it’s nowhere near back.
I’ve discovered a lot of artists that I’d never heard of. Open your mind .
Wouldn’t look at him even if he was playing in my back garden!
500 people at JVM. Must be the biggest crowd he’s ever had!
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