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Bezalel Smotrich
Israel Setting up Directorate to Displace Palestinians from Gaza – Smotrich
Arab nations along with other countries and organizations such as Human Rights Watch have rejected Trump’s proposal as amounting to ethnic cleansing. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that the government will set up […]
Katz Tells Illegal Settlers to ‘Behave Exactly like Gaza’ in West Bank
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Ganz said that Katz assured illegal Israeli Jewish settlers that “we have to behave exactly like Gaza” in the West Bank. An Israeli settler leader has reportedly said that Defense […]
Smotrich Withholds Palestinian Tax Revenues, Redirects to Israeli Families
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has moved to seize another $90 million from Palestinian tax revenues, redirecting the funds to Israeli families. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has decided to […]
Smotrich Threatens to ‘Bring Down’ Israeli Govt if Deal Proceeds to Second Phase
By Palestine Chronicle Staff On Saturday, 24 ministers in the Israeli government approved the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement while eight rejected it. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to dismantle the […]
Qatar, Jordan Condemn Israeli Map Claiming Parts of Arab Countries
By Palestine Chronicle Staff A controversial map published by Israel claiming historical territorial rights has sparked condemnation from Qatar and Jordan, escalating regional tensions. Qatar and Jordan have strongly condemned the Israeli government’s publication […]
‘Great Opportunity’ for Permanent War: What if Israel Annexed the West Bank?
By Ramzy Baroud Palestinians will certainly resist, as they always do. The nature of the resistance will prove critical in the success or failure of the Israeli scheme. Israel is getting ready to annex […]
‘Dealbreaker’ – Smotrich Sets Condition on Normalization with Saudi Arabia
Though it was the Saudis that conditioned any future relations with Israel based on the establishment of a Palestinian state, an Israeli extremist minister has a condition of his own. Israel will reject any normalization […]
‘Largest Land Seizure in Decades’ – Israel Confiscates 5,930 Acres in West Bank
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich last month said that 2025 will see the application of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. Israel has announced the confiscation of 24,000 dunams […]
‘Occupy Gaza’ – Smotrich Calls for Halving the Strip’s Population
By Palestine Chronicle Staff “It is possible to create a situation where Gaza’s population will be reduced to half its current size in two years,” the Israeli minister said. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich […]
Trump Not Keen on Israeli Annexation of West Bank – Report
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Such a move is reportedly seen as one that would be “a mistake for Israel” which would worsen its international standing, Newly elected US President, Donald Trump, opposes Israel’s reported […]
Smotrich Cancels Paris Trip to ‘Israel is Forever’ Event amid Protests
By Palestine Chronicle Staff The gala event organized by the ‘Israel is Forever’ group, described by France24 as “an association of staunchly pro-Zionist groups,” was promoted as celebrating “the power and history of Israel”. […]
‘The Year of Sovereignty’ – Smotrich Calls for West Bank Annexation
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Smotrich congratulated Trump for his victory stressing that his upcoming presidency will be an important asset for Israel to achieve its goals in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Finance Minister […]
‘No Civilian Presence’ – Smotrich Calls for Full Annexation, Expulsion of Palestinians
By Palestine Chronicle Staff The finance minister suggested a plan to expand illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as a sign to “the entire world that a Palestinian state will not be […]
Israel’s Biblical Wars of ‘Self Defense’: The Myth of the ‘Seven War Fronts’
By Ramzy Baroud There is a difference between a country fighting a defensive war on multiple fronts and another fighting for colonial expansion, for regional hegemony and for military dominance driven by religious prophecies. […]
‘Greater Israel’ Project – Smotrich Calls for Israel’s Borders to Extend to Syria, Saudi Arabia
By Palestine Chronicle Staff The Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to expand its borders to the Jordan River as well to the Syrian capital Damascus and other countries as far as […]
‘Go to Jordan’ – Jewish Settlers Intensify Campaign to Force Palestinians Out of West Bank
“You do not exist in the land of our ancient ancestors… Go to Jordan before our holy army wakes up.” The Israeli Promised Land settler association has intensified its campaign to displace Palestinians in the […]
Prison Overcrowding – Ben-Gvir, Smotrich Clash amid Budget Standoff
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Sources cited by the newspaper indicated that Netanyahu intervened by ordering an immediate solution to construct 470 new detention spaces. A heated argument broke out on Wednesday between Israel’s National […]
‘Life’s Mission’ – Smotrich Vows to Prevent Establishment of Palestinian State
By Palestine Chronicle Staff “My life’s mission is to build the Land of Israel and thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state…” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he is working to grant […]
‘Everyone is under the Burden’ – Smotrich Says Israel’s ‘Direct Costs’ of Gaza War Up to $68billion
Smotrich’s proposed 2025 budget seemed like an economic austerity plan following the contraction of the Israeli economy due to the war in Gaza. Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has been the longest in Tel Aviv’s […]
Further Steps towards Annexation – Smotrich Moves to Expel Palestinians from ‘Area B’
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched on Monday a campaign to illegally annex three percent of the so-called Area B, in the occupied West Bank, entailing the expulsion of Palestinians and destruction of all […]
‘Redrawing the West Bank’ – Washington Post Report on Israel’s Campaign to Expand Settlements
By Romana Rubeo The Israeli government has “approved strategic land seizures — almost 6,000 acres this year alone — and major settlement construction”. Israel is actively redrawing the map of the West Bank by […]
‘Flagrant Violation’ – Palestine Seeks ICC Arrest Warrant against Smotrich’s Call to Starve Gazans
The Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared Monday that starving to death two million people in Gaza might be “justified and moral.” The Palestinian Foreign Ministry is requesting the International Criminal Court (ICC) to […]
Killing Two Million Gazans is ‘Justified and Moral’ – Smotrich on Israel’s Starvation Policy
By Palestine Chronicle Staff “Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned.” Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich […]
West Bank Violence – White House Considers Sanctions on Israeli Ministers
Biden rejected this proposal, arguing that the US should not sanction elected officials in democratic countries, as stated by a senior US official. The White House National Security Council (NSC) discussed on Wednesday sanctions against […]
‘Irreversible Harm’ – Israel Approves Three Settlement Outposts, Thousands of Housing Units in West Bank
By Palestine Chronicle Staff “Our government continues to change the rules of the game in the occupied West Bank, leading to irreversible harm.” The Israeli government has approved 5,295 new housing units in dozens […]
Largest West Bank Land Seizure in Decades – Israel Speeds Up Settlement Activity
By Palestine Chronicle Staff “The size of the area designated for declaration is the largest since the Oslo Accords, and the year 2024 marks a peak in the extent of declarations of state land,” […]
Palestine Calls for Arab League Meeting Over Gaza Genocide, Settlement Expansion
The Israeli government approved steps proposed by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich last week aimed at “legalizing” settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank and imposing sanctions on the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority. Palestine has requested […]
‘Protecting Security’ – Israel Approves Smotrich’s Plan to Legalize Five Settlements
The plan includes measures against the Palestinian Authority, the legalization of five settlement outposts in the West Bank, and the issuance of tenders for thousands of new housing units in settlements. The Israeli Cabinet has […]
‘Everything is on the Table’ – Smotrich Says Annexation Plan for West Bank is Not Secret
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Smotrich’s denial came after an audio recording obtained by the NYT revealed his plan to strengthen Israeli control over the occupied West Bank and abort any attempt to be part […]
‘Dire Situation’ – Norway Warns PA on Verge of Collapse in West Bank
By Palestine Chronicle Staff At an international partner meeting on Palestine in Brussels last month, Barth Eide said the situation on the ground – not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank […]
