Smotrich Calls on Matan Kahana to Refuse Knesset Speaker Post

In depth

Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich called on Matan Kahana to refuse the post of Knesset Speaker as long as the appointment is backed by Arab parties. The minister said such an appointment is "illegitimate" and "moral bankruptcy". He attacked the possibility that Kahana would be elected Knesset Speaker with the votes of the Arab parties, claiming it amounts to "a loss of value-based judgment". Smotrich called on Kahana to refuse the post as long as the appointment is backed by parties that see the establishment of Israel as a disaster.

In a separate message to Haredi Knesset members, he wrote: "My Haredi brothers, do not fall into this honey trap." According to him, the Arab parties will discard them "right after they finish using you to oust Netanyahu and the right and seize power". Smotrich also noted that he was dismayed by a party rushing into the arms of "Israel's enemies, supporters of terrorism".

Smotrich asked Kahana not to repeat the mistakes of the Muslim Brotherhood government. The remarks were made on the day the Knesset was sworn in, the day on which negotiations over the Knesset Speaker post took place.