Smotrich rejects US pressure to release Palestinian funds

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pushed back against pressure by the US to release Palestinian tax funds withheld by Israel, saying on social media "not a single shekel" will be transferred while he remains in charge. 

His statement came after a "difficult and frustrating" conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden over the release of the funds. 

“We have a lot of respect for the US, our best ally in the world, and for President Biden, who is a true friend of Israel,” Smotrich said in a post on X. 

“But we will never put our destiny in the hands of foreigners, and as long as I am finance minister, not a single shekel will go to the Nazi terrorists in Gaza. This is not an extreme position. This is a life-saving and reality-based position.”