Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich Calls for Dismantling Palestinian Authority

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Monday for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. This statement comes just days after Smotrich approved the construction of 1,516 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

Smotrich, a figure associated with the far-right, announced the settlement expansion earlier, stating on the social media platform X that the new settlement project aims to establish three new settlements. The timing of his call to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, following the approval of new settlement units, highlights a continued escalation of tensions and policy shifts regarding Palestinian governance and Israeli settlement activity.