Bezalel Smotrich

Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit's letter follows comments issued by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in which the minister referred to Amit as a “violent, predatory megalomaniac."

The judicial branch's spokesperson said Smotrich's attack on Yitzhak Amit does not amount to "legitimate public discourse," in response to the finance minister.

Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions would let Palestinians who left Gaza enter again, but had to withdraw after pressure from coalition members.

According to the Finance Ministry, the tax will bring in NIS 1.13 billion in 2026, rising to NIS 1.5 billion each year from 2027 to 2029.

Against the backdrop of the draft law, the establishment of a government commission of inquiry, and the interview by Eli Feldstein on the Qatargate affair, coalition parties maintain their strength.

Smotrich charged that Qatar is a state sponsor of terror, adding that Doha must be condemned for its "responsibility for what happened on October 7."

He cited settlement construction and administrative work as part of recent advances, adding that without a cabinet decision to apply sovereignty, Israel risks missing a “historic opportunity.”

Protesters also warned of the economic implications of the move for local commerce, employment, and business stability in Israel, saying that the move “will be remembered in infamy."

Reportedly, the Palestinians lack sufficient local landfills, and the arrangement is supposed to involve them using trucks to transport their trash to other locations.

The move follows government approval on Wednesday for the construction of 764 housing units across three settlements in the West Bank.