Smotrich urges Israeli military action in occupied West Bank
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the military should wage war in the occupied West Bank and repeat actions taken in Gaza, including dismantling the Palestinian Authority. His comments came as Israel announced a week-long military closure across the West Bank for the Sukkot holiday. UN data recorded more than 1,330 settler-related attacks on Palestinians from January to late July, the highest rate in about 20 years.
In an interview with Ynet, Israel’s far-right finance minister urged the army to wage war in the occupied West Bank, using the biblical name Judea and Samaria, and to replicate its Gaza operations. He also called for dissolving the Palestinian Authority, describing it as a terrorist body, and said militant infrastructure, weapons, and tunnels should not exist there.
His remarks coincided with a weeklong military closure across the West Bank for Sukkot, lasting until October 3. UN data counted over 1,330 settler attacks on Palestinians from January through late July—about six daily and the highest in roughly two decades. In East Jerusalem, hundreds of Israelis entered Al-Aqsa under police guard, Wafa said.
The minister’s remarks may heighten fear among Palestinians in the West Bank, where the Sukkot closure already limits movement. If such calls gain traction, they could increase pressure on Israel’s military and legal systems, deepen settler–Palestinian tensions, and complicate diplomatic efforts. Civilians on all sides may face greater insecurity, while regional observers could view the rhetoric as further escalation.