Secret Israeli Government Bid to Cement Control
Secret Israeli Government Bid to Cement Control of the
West Bank to thwart a Palestinian State The recent revelation about Bezalel
Smotrich's speech regarding Israeli control over the West Bank is deeply
concerning. According to The New York Times, Smotrich, a far-right Israeli
cabinet minister, detailed a covert plan to cement Israeli control over the
West Bank, shifting governance from the military to civilians in his ministry.
This plan, according to Smotrich, aims to prevent the West Bank from becoming part
of a Palestinian state and to avoid accusations of formal annexation.
Smotrich's speech outlined how authority over settlement
expansion, land expropriation, and infrastructure development has already been
transferred to civilians under his control, bypassing military oversight. This
gradual shift in governance suggests a strategic move to integrate the West
Bank more closely with Israel without international backlash.
While the Israeli government officially maintains that
the status of the West Bank is subject to negotiations, Smotrich's comments
indicate a different agenda. This undermines the longstanding position that
Israeli rule in the West Bank is a temporary military occupation, as ruled by
Israel's Supreme Court. Instead, it points to a deliberate effort to establish
permanent control.
The implications of this shift are significant. It not
only challenges the prospects for a two-state solution but also exacerbates
tensions with Palestinians who have long accused Israel of attempting de facto
annexation. This covert strategy, if left unchecked, could further destabilize
the region and hinder efforts towards a peaceful resolution.
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