Israeli finance minister urges war in West Bank and annexation of Lebanon
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a war in the West Bank, saying Israel should repeat its Gaza tactics and annex parts of southern Lebanon.
Speaking on one outlet's podcast, Bezalel Smotrich said Israel must go to war in Judea and Samaria and dismantle the Palestinian Authority. He urged the same approach used in Gaza and advocated annexing the remaining Israeli-controlled Gaza zones and southern Lebanon. Smotrich has previously pushed for annexing most of the West Bank and his election campaign promotes expanding settlements there.
Why it matters
The minister's aggressive proposals could heighten tensions and reshape Israeli-Palestinian and Israel-Lebanon relations.
In this story
warannexationsettlementsIsraeli finance ministerWest BankGazaLebanonPalestinian Authority
