Opposition Flails Netanyahu on Hamas Cash Fiasco

Opposition politicians attacked Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday over the Hamas refusal to accept Qatari funds that had first been embargoed then released to Gaza earlier in the day.

“Netanyahu humiliates our national honor,” Labor party Chairman Avi Gabbay tweeted in response to the news that Hamas said it wouldn’t take what it called Israeli “political blackmail.”

“Netanyahu tried to bribe Hamas with $15 million, but even the terrorists are unwilling to accept his suitcases,” Gabbay wrote.

MK Haim Jelin (Yesh Atid) called on the cabinet to resign, alleging that its members falsely claimed security officials’ backing for the approval of the transfer when they did it on their own initiative.

“Dear Cabinet, you lost it,” said Jelin. “It’s time to go home. You failed.”

Tzipi Livni, head of the Hatnuah party, said, “Netanyahu has gotten us into a dangerous deal with Hamas” and that now Hamas is holding the country hostage.

MK Oded Forer of Yisrael Beiteinu demanded a harder hand be taken with the terrorists. The government, he said, must not surrender to their demands, but rather should condition any further cash transfer on the humanitarian release of the bodies of Israeli soldiers it holds since the 2014 Gaza war.