Newsletters
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to back the annexation of the occupied West Bank during a planned meeting later this month.
According to local media reports, Smotrich made the remarks while speaking at a meeting on the construction of new housing units on confiscated Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Smotrich reiterated his opposition to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, saying: “The purpose of my life is to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and I am fully committed to this goal.”
Calling on Netanyahu ahead of his expected visit to Washington, Smotrich said he expects the prime minister to return with a decision on what he described as “de facto sovereignty,” referring to the annexation of the West Bank.
“Mr. Prime Minister, we expect you to return from Washington with a decision on de facto sovereignty,” he said.
Smotrich, one of the strongest supporters of the seizure of Palestinian land and the construction of illegal settlements, previously said in September that Israel seeks to annex the entire West Bank, excluding Palestinian cities.
The areas Smotrich has called for annexation account for approximately 82% of the total territory of the West Bank, according to the reports.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
