Ben Gvir vows to annex entire West Bank and expel Palestinians if appointed defence minister
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared the whole West Bank belongs to Israel and promised to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and force Palestinians to leave if he becomes defence minister.
Speaking on Channel 14, Itamar Ben Gvir claimed the entire occupied West Bank is Israeli territory and pledged to dismantle the Palestinian Authority while urging Palestinians to leave both the West Bank and Gaza if he assumes the defence portfolio. He cited a poll indicating 60% of Palestinians desire emigration and promised weekly coordination with relevant parties to oversee the process. Ben Gvir also advocated removing restrictions on soldiers’ use of force, suggesting that greater lethal authority would reduce manpower needs, and he noted that police rules are currently more lenient than army rules.
He rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for insufficient commitment to Palestinian displacement. The statements precede the 27 October Knesset election and follow a series of settler actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron during Sukkot, which have heightened tensions. The United Nations continues to regard the West Bank and East Jerusalem as occupied territory, rejecting the legality of Israeli settlements.
Why it matters
The statements signal a possible shift toward full annexation and increased force against Palestinians ahead of a national election.
How this story developed
- Sep 1 EU debates ban on settlement products as Israeli forces raze West Bank homes
- Sep 13 US activists created a whistle‑blower hotline and warned firms could be targeted under anti‑BDS laws.
- Sep 14 British foreign secretary expected to announce a trade ban on settlement‑linked goods.
- Sep 17 A year after the October ceasefire, Israeli evacuation orders and ongoing attacks have kept Palestinians in Gaza displaced, with thousands killed, wounded and facing severe food insecurity.
- Sep 18 The UN rights office issued a warning that the displacement of over 33,000 refugees from West Bank camps may amount to crimes against humanity.
- Sep 23 A man in his forties was seriously wounded when a vehicle rammed a police car at a checkpoint near Modi'in on the road to the West Bank.
- Sep 23 Israel's Central Elections Committee barred the Joint List from the upcoming Knesset election, prompting the alliance to label the move racist and vow a Supreme Court appeal.
- Sep 23 The checkpoint’s security personnel have been reinforced and an investigation launched.
- Sep 24 The electoral commission has acted on two Arab party lists.
- Sep 27 Netanyahu publicly urged right‑wing parties to merge ahead of the election.
- Sep 28 A six‑storey apartment block collapsed, killing 21 people and prompting a lengthy rescue effort.
- Sep 29 Three teenagers were arrested in connection with the raid.
- Oct 2 The Central Elections Committee voted 18-5 to bar the United Arab List and the Joint List from the ballot.
- Oct 2 Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy following the court's indication it may approve a disqualification petition.
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