Finance Minister Smotrich Accuses Left Leaders of Coordinating West Bank Settlement Evacuations

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has accused opposition figures, including Yair Golan, of coordinating with former military chief Gadi Eizenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on a plan to evacuate settlements in the West Bank. Smotrich warned that such a plan would erase the achievements of Israeli settlement efforts and lead to the establishment of a "terror state." He stated, "Listen to Yair Golan. He is telling the truth. He is coordinated with them on dismantling the farms and evacuating the settlements we established. If Eizenkot becomes prime minister, the settlement revolution will be erased and a terror state will be just around the corner."

Smotrich's remarks came in response to Golan's recent podcast, where the former IDF general and leader of the Democratic Party outlined his political vision advocating for a broad evacuation of settlements. Golan proposed building a wide coalition around three principles: preventing further annexation, combating both Palestinian and Jewish terrorism, and evacuating all illegal outposts and farms. He emphasized that these principles could gain immediate agreement from political leaders including Bennett, Eizenkot, and Yair Lapid.

Golan declared, "The vision for me is two states for two peoples," highlighting his commitment to a two-state solution. His call for evacuation and opposition to annexation contrasts sharply with Smotrich's pro-settlement stance. The dispute underscores the growing political tensions ahead of the 2026 elections regarding the future of Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).