Israeli Minister may be denied visa to US after call to erase Huwara

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Mar 21:37

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's visit to Washington is scheduled to kick off next week to attend a conference hosted by Israeli compay Bonds.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionist Party, speaks during a rally with supporters in the occupied southern city of Huj on 26 October 2022 (AFP)

Sources reported on Monday that the US may consider denying issuing a diplomatic visa to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich following his call to wipe out the Palestinian town of Huwara.

Axios reported that the US State Department has held consultations on the matter as Smotrich's visit to Washington is scheduled to kick off in a few days to attend a conference hosted by "Israel" Bonds.

The call for exterminating Huwara was issued on Wednesday following a violent Israeli rampage that left one Palestinian murdered and several Palestinian cars, homes, and businesses burned to the ground.

The rampage followed a week of brutal aggression against Palestinians in Nablus in which 11 were killed in an Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raid.

Private Israeli sources told Axios that State Department officials have sent signals to "Israel" in recent days that they prefer the Finance Minister to annul his trip.

Another US source said that no official from the Biden administration would be willing to meet with Smotrich if he were to come to the US.

On Saturday, Smotirch walked back on his statements, saying it was a "slip of the tongue" made in a "storm of emotions."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later praised Smotrich for his alleged apology, noting that the call to exterminate Huwara was "inappropriate."

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Over the past month, upheaval and chaos took the Israeli occupation entity by storm. Violent clashes erupted between the opposition and police, as Israeli settlers protest against the government’s judicial reforms. Appeals for civil disobedience and riots have been met with stern warnings from both sides, as political rifts are widening and warning against the outbreak of a “civil war”.