The Israeli minister calls for the extension of sovereignty in the West Bank

2024-11-11 20:18:08, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Israeli minister calls for the extension of sovereignty in the West Bank

Bezalel Smotrich

Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said Monday he hoped Israel would extend sovereignty in 2025 to the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by the Jewish state. He added that he would ask the Israeli government to cooperate with the incoming US administration of Donald Trump to win Washington's support.

Israel's foreign minister said that no decision had been made on this, the issue could become part of discussions with the next US administration in Washington.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has an oversight role within the defense ministry for Israeli settlers as part of the coalition deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he hoped Mr Trump's incoming administration in Washington would recognize the expansion of Israeli sovereignty. Israel.

Minister Smotrich has for years called for Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, land where the Palestinians want to declare the future independent state.

At a meeting of his far-right party in parliament on Monday, Mr Smotrich said he had instructed Israeli authorities overseeing West Bank settlements "to begin professional and comprehensive staff work to prepare the necessary infrastructure" for the expansion. of sovereignty, according to a statement from his office.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said those who support this position may be confident that incoming US President Donald Trump could support such moves, but that the government had not yet made a decision.

"A decision has not yet been made on this issue," Mr. Saar told a news conference in Jerusalem.

"The last time we discussed this issue was during President Trump's first term," he said. "Let's say that if it will be important, it will be discussed again with our friends in Washington."

The United States has for decades supported a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians and urged Israel not to expand settlements in the occupied territory.

The West Bank is among the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and where the Palestinians, with international support, are seeking statehood. Most world powers consider the settlements illegal. Israel disputes this, basing its claims on the West Bank with arguments from history and describing it as a security shield for them./ VOA