Minister Strock to INN: It's time for the Prime Minister to take control of the situation

Minister of National Missions Orit Strock told Israel National News on Sunday that the ministers from her Religious Zionist Party were absent from the cabinet meeting because the situation in which Minister Bezalel Smotrich is not granted the powers to manage civilian life in Judea and Samaria is unacceptable.

"We didn't come to the cabinet meeting because we think and are certain that the basis for the existence of the government and its proper functioning is the exact observance of what was signed in the coalition agreements. If they start to blatantly violate them, it greatly clouds everything that the government does and its longevity," asserted Strock.

"There is an ongoing incident, that has been going on for several weeks, in which the powers that were supposed to be given to Minister Bezalel Smotrich are not fully handed over to him. We decided to put things on hold and make it clear to the Prime Minister that he must put things in order," she added.

Strock charged that "the Minister of Defense is dragging his feet and harming all the important tasks, assignments and goals that Minister Bezalel Smotrich should have carried out regarding civilian life in Judea and Samaria. The evacuation on Friday was the end of this ongoing event that must stop and we have to say – the buck stops here. I sincerely hope that the Prime Minister will take the situation into his hands and things will be sorted out."

"There was blatant behavior because Minister Smotrich gave a certain instruction and Minister Gallant gave the opposite instruction without even picking up the phone and calling the person with whom he is supposed to work in full cooperation. He simply ignored him and treated him as air and it is impossible to continue to function in such a way," added Strock.

She made clear that there is no intention to dissolve the government. "There is unanimity among all the members of the coalition on a great many things we want to do and there are no parties outside the coalition who need to be promoted. Therefore, this is the ultimate coalition, we just have to make sure that everyone knows his place and the place of his colleague."