Extreme-right Israeli official unveils strategy to hinder the West Bank's incorporation into a Palestinian nation.
Right-wing Israeli politician Smotrich, a key figure in Prime Minister Netanyahu's cabinet, opines that strengthening Jewish settlements is key to preventing a Palestinian state that might pose a threat to Israel. According to Smotrich, the objective is to reshape the system for numerous years ahead.
A recording and transcript of his speech were leaked to CNN by Israeli NGO Peace Now, which had a representative present during the address.
Israel's Supreme Court views Israeli control over the West Bank as a temporary military occupation, not annexation under a civilian administration. However, Smotrich, who resides in a settlement himself, has consistently advocated against the creation of an independent Palestine. He's also been a long-time proponent of unlawful Jewish settlements, according to international law and global consensus.
Smotrich's office confirmed the delivery of the speech. Earlier this month, his office announced an event focusing on Jewish settlements, with the goal of "preventing a terrorist state in the core of Israel."
The announcement mentioned the structural changes led by the Minister in the Ministry of Defense and the Settlement Directorate established in his ministry. Smotrich had previously stated, "After October 7th, it's a consensus in Israeli society. The strategy is to grow settlements, and our focus is on implementing broad structural processes that will lead to Israel developing settlements in an organized manner."
During the audio, Smotrich outlined the creation of a separate civilian system for the occupied West Bank, even though the Defense Ministry maintains control of the area.
"A distinct civilian system has been established, there is an office within the Ministry of Defense. There's a minister there, an administration there, it's like an office, there's a CEO for the administration, he's accepted as the CEO of a government office, there's an entire system within the administration," Smotrich explained.
As more countries demand an independent Palestinian state, Smotrich discussed the planning powers of the minister and administration, and the prospect of developing extensive transit and road systems in the West Bank over the coming years to facilitate settlement.
"This is a revolution: this is how you bring a million people to Judea and Samaria," Smotrich asserted, using the term many Israelis use for the occupied territory.
Throughout his half-hour speech, Smotrich claimed credit for convincing Netanyahu to create a civilian administration in the West Bank.
"I will say a good word about him because, to his credit, it will be said that as soon as he understood the event, he was fully with us," Smotrich added.
CNN has reached out to Netanyahu's office for a response. The government's official stance is that the status of the West Bank is a matter for future negotiations.
Israel has kept expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank for years, disregarding peace agreements signed with the Palestinians in the 1990s, known as the Oslo Accords, which proposed the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza as part of a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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The strategy proposed by Smotrich involves strengthening Jewish settlements in the middle East's West Bank to hinder the formation of a Palestinian nation that might pose a threat to Israel. Despite international law and global consensus regarding unlawful Jewish settlements, Smotrich advocates for their growth, aiming to bring a million people to Judea and Samaria, a term often used for the occupied West Bank, over the coming years.
