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
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen
Israeli media: Echoes of several explosions heard in central occupied territories
United States: A federal judge temporarily blocks President Donald Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland
Syria: Local sources for Al-Mayadeen: An IOF patrol consisting of 4 vehicles entered the village of Suissa in the southern countryside of Quneitra
Trump on Truth Social: When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective
Trump on Truth Social: After negotiations, 'Israel' has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas
An al-Quds Brigades field commander to Al Mayadeen: We tell the enemy soldiers that we are not far from you, and you will see our faces whenever we decide to, because we are waging a harsh and complex battle of attrition
An al-Quds Brigades field commander to Al Mayadeen: The enemy is advancing toward the heart of Gaza City under the watchful eyes of our Resistance fighters with their tactics focused on valuable targets
An al-Quds Brigades field commander to Al Mayadeen: The enemy is advancing slowly and using unmanned vehicles to uncover and target combat nodes, which we are aware of
An al-Quds Brigades field commander to Al Mayadeen: We carried out a number of heroic operations, and the enemy, as usual, is lying and misleading the public about its human losses

Smotrich tells US to 'wise up' about Palestinian state

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Jan 2024 23:55
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

Bezalel Smotrich alleged that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be a push for "the next massacre."

  • x
  • Smotrich tells US to
    Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Knesset in al-Quds on July 10, 2023. (AP)

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that there is "broad consensus" in the Israeli occupation against a Palestinian state, calling such a state a "push for the next massacre."

In an X post, the far-right Israeli minister said “Israel’s friends should understand that the push for the establishment of a Palestinian state is a push for the next massacre, God forbid, and [poses] a threat to the existence of the State of Israel.”

He declared that the White House must “wise up on the concepts that led to [this] national disaster in 'Israel.'”

This comes as the Israeli newspaper Haaretz recently warned of the alarming consequences that Netanhyahu's extremist Finance Minister's unfiltered fascist discourse could have on Israeli PR. 

"Smotrich poses a danger to Israel. He incites war in the West Bank. His statements serve South Africa to attribute intents of war crimes to Israel, and everything he says and does harms relations with the United States and undermines its commitment to stand by Israel against its enemies. This is because the United States does not support or intend to support the settlement project and the transfer of Smotrich and his friends," it said.

In its editorial page, Haaretz warned that Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, continues to promote escalation in Gaza by making provocative and extremist statements, in addition to seizing Palestinian taxes and preventing them from reaching their rightful recipients in the Palestinian Authority.

Haaretz adds that "neither the requests of US President Joe Biden, nor the visits of his Secretary of State Antony Blinken or the lawsuit against Israel on charges of genocide in Gaza in the International Court of Justice in The Hague will silence Smotrich or prevent him from exploiting the war to pursue his Messianic dreams of an undemocratic Jewish state from the river to the sea."

Related News

Hamas: Israeli bombing of Gaza exposes Netanyahu’s lies

Trump: 'Israel' agrees to initial withdrawal pending Hamas reply

The newspaper pointed to the clear contradiction between the American stance and Smotrich's extremist positions, which he insists on not compromising. Blinken said at the end of his recent visit to "Tel Aviv" that Netanyahu made it clear to him that "Israel" will not forcibly displace the Palestinians out of Gaza.

Additionally, Blinken called on the Israeli Cabinet's Ministry of Finance to transfer all tax funds to the Palestinian Authority.

Tax revenue seizure: Netanyahu, Smotrich, US, and the PA

After the onset of the war in Gaza, the occupation's extremist Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, decided to suspend the transfer of all tax revenue funds.

This decision was later mitigated by the collective Israeli occupation government. It was decided that tax revenues would be transferred, except for the portions meant for Gaza, which will be withheld by the occupation as it tries to choke the Strip in its ongoing genocidal war.

The Palestinian Authority, however, rejected this proposal of a partial transfer of tax revenues, insisting on the release of all Palestinian tax revenues. 

Tax revenues are the main source of income for the Palestinian Authorities and the source of the PA security apparatus' monthly salary. The PA's refusal to accept a partial transfer of tax revenues puts it and its security apparatus at risk of dissolution. Thus, the US had to intervene to prevent the potential collapse of the PA, which could lead to a violent escalation in the West Bank. 

Biden proposed transferring the withheld tax revenues to Norway for safekeeping until a satisfactory arrangement is reached. 

The PA approved the US proposal and accepted taking partial revenues if the withheld Gaza revenues were transferred to Norway for safekeeping.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has expressed opposition to the release of any of the funds, even indirectly through Norway or partially to the West Bank, and has threatened to resign over the issue, which could put the Prime Minister's coalition government at risk.

  • Bezalel Smotrich
  • United States
  • Palestine
  • US President Joe Biden
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hamas fighters stand in formation ahead of a ceremony to hand over Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP)

Hamas reviews Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan as PIJ rejects

  • Palestine
  • 30 Sep 2025
Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
Trump’s 21-point Gaza plan vs Netanyahu’s demand for Hamas defeat

Trump vows 'something special' in ME; Israeli delegation in chaos

  • US & Canada
  • 28 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Activists deported to Turkey after 'Israel' hijacks Sumud Flotilla
West Asia

137 activists arrive in Turkey after 'Israel' hijacked Sumud Flotilla

Law enforcement hold back protesters near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Black Hawks and break-ins: Chicago immigration crackdown intensifies

WP: American Jews increasingly critical of 'Israel' over Gaza War
US & Canada

Majority of American Jews say 'Israel' committed war crimes in Gaza

David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, at the “Rebels With a Cause” gala in Hollywood, in 2014 (AP)
Politics

The Ellisons take US media power structure by storm, reshape industry

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