Smotrich demands revote on Gaza reconstruction plan that he backed

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock called on the government to hold a new vote on the Board of Peace's recommendations, arguing that ministers approved the original decision based on incomplete and misleading information. The demand comes despite Smotrich voting in favor of the cabinet resolution when it was originally approved, while Strock led opposition to the measure. The cabinet last week approved the launch of the BoP's pilot phase and granted principal approval for the deployment of the International Stabilization Force into the Gaza Strip as part of the framework for postwar reconstruction.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock on Monday called on the government to hold a new vote on the recommendations of the government's Board of Peace (BoP), arguing that ministers approved the original decision based on incomplete and misleading information. The demand comes despite Smotrich voting in favor of the cabinet resolution when it was originally approved, while Strock led opposition to the measure. The cabinet last week approved the launch of the BoP's pilot phase and granted principal approval for the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into the Gaza Strip as part of the framework for postwar reconstruction. In a joint letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cabinet ministers, Smotrich and Strock argued that the summary presented to ministers before the vote omitted key consequences of the recommendations, preventing the cabinet from making an informed decision. They urged ministers to rescind the previous approval and revisit the proposal only after reviewing what they described as its full legal and operational implications. The ministers argued that several substantive provisions were not adequately presented before the vote, despite their potential impact on national security and financial enforcement. Among the issues highlighted in the letter are proposed changes to the authority of financial institutions to restrict banking services, new procedural requirements before financial sanctions could be imposed, limitations on the operational role of the Israel Security Agency in providing information used in financial enforcement, revisions to Israel's sanctions policy, and the establishment of a new oversight mechanism. The ministers argued that, taken together, these measures would weaken existing tools used to combat financial activity linked to hostile organizations. The letter also argues that the recommendations would reduce the effectiveness of existing mechanisms used by the banking system, the Tax Authority and other government bodies to prevent financial activity by entities considered hostile to Israel. It further criticizes provisions governing the ISF and Israel's sanctions policy, claiming they would create additional bureaucracy while limiting Israel's operational flexibility. The cabinet decision that Smotrich now seeks to revisit approved the launch of the BoP's pilot phase and granted legal immunity to the ISF, which is expected to coordinate with the IDF in areas of Gaza outside Hamas control. Under the approved framework, any deployment of ISF personnel would still require specific authorization from the prime minister, defense minister and foreign minister. During the original vote, Smotrich supported the proposal while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed it and Strock publicly criticized the plan. The letter concludes by urging ministers to withdraw their previous approval and hold a new vote only after receiving what Smotrich and Strock describe as a complete and transparent presentation of the recommendations' legal, security and practical consequences.