Smotrich: We will never allow the formation of a Palestinian State

In a press conference, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister, claimed: “The time has come to apply Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, and this action must ensure that an Arab ‘terrorist’ state is not established next to us.”

Smotrich stated that Israel will never allow its cities to turn into areas resembling the Gaza Strip.

Referring to U.S. support for Tel Aviv’s decision to eliminate the idea of a Palestinian state, he asserted: “Applying sovereignty over the West Bank will prevent the formation of a Palestinian state that seeks to destroy us.”

The Israeli Finance Minister reiterated: “Regardless of the challenges, we will never allow a Palestinian state to be established.”

The hardline cabinet member continued in a defiant tone, stating that annexation should be carried out over the largest areas with the lowest population, and that 82% of the West Bank should be annexed.

According to him, this is no longer just an ideological idea but a practical plan to apply Israeli law over nearly 82% of the West Bank, aiming to impose a fait accompli on the ground and permanently eliminate the idea of creating a Palestinian state. The plan is based on a guiding principle that Smotrich calls the “supreme principle”:

Under Smotrich’s full plan, Palestinians remaining outside the sovereignty (approximately 18% of the territory, mainly in Area A) would continue to administer their own affairs.

Smotrich explained: “At this stage, just as it is currently implemented through the Palestinian Authority. Thus, this plan aims to eliminate the Palestinian national idea and replace it with a purely urban-regional governance model.”

After presenting his plan to annex 82% of the West Bank, he claimed: “If the Palestinian Authority threatens us, we will destroy it.”