TEL AVIV (Dispatches) --
 Israel’s extremist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to bring down prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet and push for new elections amid growing tensions over the handling of the war in Gaza, according to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster.
During a security cabinet meeting focused on future military operations, Smotrich expressed frustration with the current regime’s strategy. “From my perspective, we can stop everything,” he said, signaling his readiness to dissolve the coalition if necessary.
The governing coalition now holds a slim majority of just 60 seats in the 120-member Knesset, following the recent departure of the United Torah Judaism party and far-right legislator Avi Maoz. New elections can only be triggered if the Knesset votes to dissolve the cabinet.
In a rare and sharp public statement released Saturday night, Smotrich declared he had lost faith that the prime minister is able and wants to lead the military to a decisive victory. He urged Netanyahu to reconvene the cabinet and commit to ending all pauses and partial agreements in the war. 
Smotrich called for a decisive campaign, including the annexation of large parts of Gaza and the facilitation of voluntary emigration, meaning forced expulsions.
He condemned ongoing military actions that risk Israeli soldiers’ lives and incur heavy political and international costs.