Jewish Force MKs abstain from voting in the Knesset in opposition to the "weak response to the Gaza rocket fire"

One hundred four rockets were fired at the Western Negev and Ashkelon the previous day.

As payback, the IDF bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday morning, the Israeli government declared that the attack wave was over and things could return to normal in the area.

However, not everyone in the coalition agreed with the government’s strategy.

The Jewish Force party, led by Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced that its members would not vote in the

Knesset and instead would gather in Sderot “because of the government’s weak response in Gaza last night.” They were barred from participating in the security cabinet’s discussions on the response to the rocket fire.

“The weak response of the IDF encourages the next round of rockets which will continue to harm the lives of our children and the fabric of living for the Western Negev and southern regions who have put their trust in us,” stated MK Almog Cohen (Jewish Force).

I won’t allow the Southern and Negev pioneers to be treated like second-class citizens.

Yitzchak Kroizer, a different member of the Jewish Force, urged the government to keep the body of Khader Adnan, a terrorist who passed away while being held in custody, in exchange for the remains of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul.