Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must convene a cabinet meeting to discuss Israel's relationship with the Palestinian Authority (PA), National Missions Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionist Party) demanded on Thursday.
Strock emphasized that the cabinet must set a clear directive to guide all state authorities in light of the common mistake that there is a need to "strengthen" the PA.
This is based on Strock's assertions that the PA continues to act against Israel by inciting terrorism, conducting an international legal campaign against Israel, using PA prisons as safe havens for terrorists who carry out attacks against Israel, known as "pay-for-slay", and imprisoning or torturing Palestinians who sell lands to Jews or support Israel.
Other assertions include that the PA is promoting plans to take control of the West Bank to force an Israeli withdrawal without de facto negotiations.
Strock also asserts that the PA has been running a campaign aimed at presenting itself as a moderate partner, but in practice, it is a "smoke and mirrors" campaign, in order to allow the PA to receive funding from international bodies and position itself as the preferred governing body in a post-Hamas Gaza Strip.
Strock's previous comments
Strock stated that winning the war is more important than bringing back every hostage during an interview with Amit Segal at Arutz Sheva's Jerusalem conference in February.
"If there is a deal that allows the continuation of the fighting in Gaza, the further dismantling of Hamas, which we have not yet eradicated in its civilian, governmental, and military forms, and the continued pursuit of the war's objectives, we will certainly support it," she told 103FM in December.
In May 2024, she sharply criticized the US, and then-president Joe Biden, claiming that Washington is "not worthy to be called a friend of Israel." She also commended then-Republican candidate for president Donald Trump for rejecting the idea of Palestinian statehood earlier in May.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.