Israel's Smotrich calls for war in West Bank and dismantling of Palestinian Authority

Religious Zionist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has urged Israel to wage war in the West Bank and dismantle the Palestinian Authority, mirroring military actions seen in Gaza. Speaking on Ynet's podcast, Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party, advocated for dismantling the "terror infrastructure" of the Palestinian Authority and preventing armed groups from operating in the territory.

He demanded a state of war to eliminate any remaining terror infrastructure, weapons, and tunnels in the West Bank. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced Smotrich's comments as "dangerous calls for war," a call for escalation, and a push for annexation and displacement, which aim to undermine the prospects of an independent Palestinian state.

The ministry warned that any attempt to dismantle the Palestinian Authority would bear full responsibility for the consequences. They called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council and the United States, to take immediate action to compel Israel to cease its alleged crimes, halt settlement expansion, annexations, and displacement, while protecting Palestinians and their institutions.

The ministry emphasized that security, stability, and peace cannot be achieved through war, killings, displacement, and settlement expansion, advocating for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with international law, UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.