Finance Minister Smotrich Calls for War in West Bank, Annexation

Israeli Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich has called for initiating a "war" in the West Bank, aiming to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, which he described as a "terrorist administration." Smotrich stated in a September 27 interview with Ynet that the objective should be to "kill all terrorists and collect all weapons," mirroring operations conducted in Gaza. He also advocated for the annexation of territories in Gaza and Lebanon, extending to the Litani River.

Smotrich's remarks came in response to warnings from Israeli military and security officials about the escalating situation in the West Bank, partly due to settler violence. He dismissed these warnings as attempts to "cover themselves in case of failure," urging the military to propose solutions rather than issue alerts. "If you are the army, then propose solutions," he stated, adding that he personally has solutions, including launching a war in the West Bank.

The finance minister also demanded that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Ministry of Defense reduce their expenditures, arguing that the Israeli public has other needs in healthcare, education, and social services. He criticized the military's spending habits, stating, "We told the army for the first two years of the war: you work, and we will pay. But at some point, we said: enough, start increasing efficiency, start limiting yourselves. Work harder and change your work methods."

Smotrich's comments highlight a potential disconnect with military assessments. An IDF representative in May 2026 indicated a shortage of approximately 12,000 soldiers, with projections of a rise to 17,000 by January 2027. Concurrently, data from June 2026 revealed that nearly half of IDF reservists have served extensively since the "Swords of Iron" war began, with 20% serving over 300 days in less than three years.

In addition to security matters, Smotrich discussed potential post-election coalitions, ruling out participation in a "government of national unity" that includes both major political blocs. He also commented on Ofer Winter's independent electoral campaign, calling it "irresponsible" and predicting he would not pass the electoral threshold.