Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.
Maduro: It’s time to make a choice, either stand with the warmongers who want death and violence, or stand with life.
Maduro: They want our wealth. This is not about drug trafficking, and they know it.
Maduro: Everyone in the world knows that what the economic elite ruling the United States seeks today is Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold.

Smotrich says 'Israel' must extend 'sovereignty' across W. Bank, Gaza

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 27 Oct 2024 22:46
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

The Israeli Finance Minister reiterates his statements against the establishment of a Palestinian state.

  • x
  • Smotrich
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, talks with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, left, during the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in occupied al-Quds, Sunday, June 25, 2023 (AP)

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.

Related News

Gaza MoH: Israeli violations of ceasefire leave more martyred

Egyptian convoy enters Gaza to help recover captive remains

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. 

Read more: UK mulling sanctions against Israeli ministers: Starmer

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • West Bank
  • Israeli occupation
  • Bezalel Smotrich
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS