In the wake of the October 2023 events, the Israeli regime “can and must apply Israeli sovereignty in [the West Bank] and in Gaza," stressed Israeli occupation Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, The Times of Israel reported on Sunday.

Speaking at the so-called Middle East Summit, a conference hosted by Israel 365—a media platform targeting American evangelicals—Smotrich, who also leads the Religious Zionism party, argued that "Israel" should abandon “wrong concepts” of a "two-state solution".

He called for an “unequivocal Israeli statement” to the Arab world and beyond, declaring that “a Palestinian state will not be established.”

This stance, Smotrich emphasized, should be underscored by “the establishment of new cities and settlements deep in the [West Bank] and bringing hundreds of thousands of additional settlers to live in them.”

The Israeli Minister further advocated for Israeli control over the Gaza Strip, pointing out that last year's events represented “painful evidence” that prolonged absence of a military presence in the besieged Palestinian territory endangers "Israel" and Israeli settlers, "and we must not allow this.”

“Those who do not want or are unable to put aside their national ambitions will receive assistance from us to emigrate to one of the many Arab countries where the Arabs can realize their national ambitions, or to any other destination in the world,” he said.

In mid-October, Smotrich sparked controversy with remarks suggesting his vision for an expanded "Jewish State" that could extend beyond Palestinian territories and into other countries, including Syria.

The comments were made during an interview for a French-language documentary, "Israel: Extremists in Power", aired by Arte.

When asked whether "Israel" aims to extend its current "sovereignty"—which stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River—he responded with a smile, saying, "Okay, bit by bit."

En un documental producido por Arte, el Ministro de Finanzas israelí, Bezalel Smotrich, expresó su deseo de un "Estado judío" que incluya a Jordania, Arabia Saudita, Egipto, Irak, Siria y el Líbano, afirmando que "está escrito que el futuro de Jerusalén es expandirse a Damasco." pic.twitter.com/DK7R2DHQ2D

— aapayés (@aapayes) October 10, 2024

Smotrich also referred to religious texts, claiming that the future of occupied al-Quds involves expansion "as far as Damascus."

Smotrich says his 'life’s mission' is to thwart Palestinian state

In June, Smotrich reiterated his stance that the Israeli-occupied West Bank should be permanently integrated into the Israeli occupation entity rather than forming part of a Palestinian state.

Speaking at a meeting of his Religious Zionism party, Smotrich described his "life’s mission" as being to "thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state," as per the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

"We will establish sovereignty in Judea and Samaria [an Israeli name for the occupied West Bank], first on the ground and then through legislation," the Minister indicated, adding that he intends to "legalise the young settlements [illegal outposts]."

It is worth noting that the occupied West Bank was divided into three administrative sections under the 1993 Oslo Accords, with Area A managed by the Palestinian Authority, Area B under alleged shared sovereignty, and Area C – the largest area, accounting for around 60% of the occupied Palestinian territories – under full Israeli administrative and security control.

According to the accords, Area C, the only contiguous portion of the occupied West Bank with the most fertile land and valuable natural resources, was meant to be gradually transferred to Palestinian sovereignty, but this has never occurred.

Instead, Area C is now occupied by over 400,000 settlers, who control 70% of the area and prohibit Palestinian development. 

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