Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has unveiled a plan calling for Israel to annex 82% of the West Bank. Smotrich, who also oversees settlement policy for the Defense Ministry, heads the far-right Religious Zionism party.
According to Smotrich, Israel holds “biblical, historical, and moral rights to all its land.” He claims that the idea of extending Israeli sovereignty over most of the West Bank enjoys substantial support among Israelis. “There’s a broad consensus in favor of sovereignty over the West Bank — directly stemming from the deep understanding that we will never allow an existential threat to take root alongside us. After decades of hesitation, it’s time to state this clearly and act accordingly. It is time to extend Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (the Israeli term for the West Bank), and to permanently lay to rest the idea of dividing our small country to create a terrorist state at its center,” the minister said, as cited by The Times of Israel.
Smotrich noted that the Defense Ministry department responsible for settlements has, in recent months, been working on a division map of the West Bank based on the principle that Israel should “control the maximum land with the minimum Palestinian population.” “We have no desire to extend our sovereignty over a population that seeks our destruction,” he clarified. “God willing, Israeli sovereignty will be established over about 82% of this territory,” Smotrich added.
Addressing future plans for the Palestinians, Smotrich indicated they would be offered some form of self-governance. However, he proposes gradually phasing out the Palestinian National Authority, replacing it with regional civil administrative alternatives. He emphasized that possible annexation of the West Bank would be “a preemptive step against diplomatic offensives” by states planning to recognize Palestinian statehood. “Israel’s wavering only fuels attacks against us. These assaults can be stopped by ending indecision and making it clear: Judea and Samaria are not disputed territory but the heritage of our ancestors for generations to come. There will never be — and cannot be — a Palestinian state on our land. We will no longer yield to threats and intimidation. If the Palestinian Authority dares to rise up and try to harm us, we will destroy it, just as we did Hamas,” Smotrich warned.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: PxHere/CC0
Based on TASS materials