An influential member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, Bezalel Smotrich, candidly outlined a covert strategy to irrevocably alter the governance of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The goal, as Smotrich articulated in a recorded speech, is to solidify Israel’s control over the territory without formally annexing it, thus avoiding international backlash.
Speaking to settlers earlier this month, Smotrich highlighted the dramatic nature of these changes, which aim to prevent the West Bank from becoming part of a Palestinian state. “I’m telling you, it’s mega-dramatic,” he said. “Such changes change a system’s DNA.” His remarks, confirmed by a spokesman, underscore a deliberate shift of authority from military to civilian control, managed through Smotrich’s office in the defense ministry. This transition has been incrementally implemented over the past 18 months, with several authorities already transferred to civilians.
The Israeli government’s official stance maintains that the West Bank’s status remains a subject for negotiation between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. However, Israel’s Supreme Court has long deemed the region under a temporary military occupation, not a permanent civilian annexation. Smotrich’s admission complicates this position, revealing an orchestrated effort to embed civilian governance while keeping the military visibly involved to mitigate international scrutiny. “It will be easier to swallow in the international and legal context,” Smotrich admitted candidly.
Netanyahu’s involvement in this strategy was also highlighted. Smotrich confirmed that the Prime Minister is fully supportive of the plan, which aligns with their coalition agreement. Despite potential future government shifts, past precedents suggest that changes in the West Bank often persist across different administrations.
For Palestinians, Smotrich’s comments are less surprising than his willingness to vocalize them. Ibrahim Dalalsha, director of the Horizon Center in Ramallah, remarked, “It’s interesting to hear Smotrich in his own voice confirm much of what we suspected about his agenda.” He further commented on the longstanding nature of this approach, which Palestinians have seen as a de facto annexation strategy since 1967. “It’s been going on since way before Smotrich came to the scene,” Dalalsha said.
As international pressure mounts for the establishment of a Palestinian state, Smotrich’s disclosures shed light on Israel’s discreet maneuvers to consolidate its hold over the West Bank and will likely only further worsen their standing on the global stage. .
