Netanyahu’s right-wing partners laud hostages’ return, though warn of deal’s dangers

The leaders of Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit—the most staunchly right-wing parties in Israel’s governing coalition—are expected to vote against the Hamas deal during the Cabinet vote to approve the agreement, which is set to take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Although the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday called the deal “a historic moment” and one that achieves all three war objectives laid out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—the return of the hostages, the defeat and dismantling of Hamas, and the promise that Gaza would no longer pose a threat to Israel—the government’s far-right members expressed, at best, ambivalence to the agreement.

Religious Zionism Party head and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged his “mixed emotions” in a Thursday tweet, noting hi