Smotrich Accuses Attorney General of Election Interference Over E1 Construction

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has launched a sharp attack against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of election interference. The dispute centers on Baharav-Miara's directive to delay the conclusion of a tender for construction in the E1 area near Ma'ale Adumim until after the upcoming elections.

Smotrich, who also chairs the Religious Zionism party, argued that the tender process was legitimate and began long before the election period. He demanded the immediate cancellation of the directive, which he deemed improper, and called for the tender to proceed as scheduled.

During a tour of agricultural farms in Judea and Samaria, Smotrich stated, "Gali Baharav-Miara is trying to stop construction in E1. She is interfering in the election campaign and working for Gadi Eisenkot, who announced he would stop construction to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, a terror state in the heart of the State of Israel. I will not allow her to do this."

Smotrich further appealed to the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, urging him to ensure that the Attorney General and her staff do not become active participants in the election campaign. Smotrich alleged their actions aim to support the left, prevent the right from forming a government, and enable the establishment of a Palestinian state that endangers Israel's existence.