Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich fiercely rejected President Trump’s 21-point Gaza plan, blasting it as a dangerous revival of the failed Oslo model and warning that Israel must not trade battlefield victories for “diplomatic illusions.”
“A Nation of Lions” Betrayed by Illusions
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich delivered a blistering critique of the 21-point proposal unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the Gaza war.
Smotrich cautioned that after two years of sacrifice, battlefield heroism, and painful loss, Israel must not surrender hard-earned security achievements for what he called “outdated illusions.”
“To revert, after October 7th, to outsourcing our security to foreigners and talking again of ‘two states,’ ‘Palestinians ruling Palestinians,’ Egyptian and Jordanian-trained police, and Qatar as a central actor — this is nothing more than a resurrection of Oslo,” Smotrich declared. “It will end in tears.”
Warning Against Oslo 2.0
Smotrich branded Trump’s plan as:
- A historic missed opportunity to end the Oslo era once and for all.
- A resounding diplomatic failure, ignoring the lessons of October 7.
- A recipe for future bloodshed, ensuring Israel’s children will once again fight in Gaza.
Calling it “leadership fleeing from its calling,” Smotrich questioned whether Israel is resigning itself to international pressure and coalition fatigue rather than pursuing victory. He suggested only the enemy’s rejectionism might save Israel from another dangerous retreat.
The Core Message
For Smotrich, the choice is clear: either cement Israel’s sovereignty and security in Gaza, or gamble on recycled illusions that history has proven deadly. “Celebrations since yesterday,” he concluded, “are simply absurd.”
