Israeli Finance Minister Calls for War in West Bank, Annexation

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a military operation in the West Bank, which he referred to as Judea and Samaria, to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate the Palestinian Authority. Smotrich stated, "I think we need to start a war in Judea and Samaria to do there what we did in Gaza," referencing the IDF's actions in the Gaza Strip following the October 7th Hamas attacks. He also proposed annexing Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza, drawing a border along the "yellow line," and parts of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.

According to Smotrich, these actions would serve as a response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war. The finance minister has previously advocated for increased Israeli control over the West Bank and the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza. These proposals have drawn international criticism, and Lebanon opposes any Israeli military presence on its territory.

Smotrich's remarks follow earlier statements where he advocated for renewed Jewish presence in Gaza, suggesting that limiting it to the evacuated Gush Katif settlement bloc from 2005 would be insufficient due to its small size. He also previously indicated that the IDF might resume intense operations in Gaza if Hamas terrorists could not be disarmed by other means, reiterating that the ultimate goal remains the complete destruction of the group.