Israeli Finance Minister Rushes to Expand West Bank Settlements

In light of the recent attacks, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is rushing to implement his plan to expand the occupied settlements in the West Bank and legalize their outposts.

Minister Urges Cabinet to Approve Settlement Expansion Plan

According to Israeli Channel 12, Smotrich sent a letter to the ministers announcing his intention to present his plan to the cabinet this week and urging them to submit any comments or additional plans of their own.

“Last week we asked you to comment on the government’s plan to strengthen settlements in Judea and Samaria. Due to two terrorist attacks this week, we ask that this plan be submitted to the cabinet next Sunday,” the letter reads, asking the Ministers to submit their comments as soon as possible.

Legalizing Outposts and Allocating Funds

According to the information, Smotrich, the head of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, is pushing a plan to legalize 155 outposts across the West Bank, using his control of the Treasury Ministry as well as settlement affairs in the Defense Ministry, in accordance with coalition agreements with Netanyahu’s Likud party.

The plan is said to map all illegal Israeli outposts beyond the Green Line, with the goal of eventually legalizing them all.

To legalize the outposts built on private Palestinian land, Smotrich intends to either move them to what Israel considers “public land” or introduce alternative legal mechanisms that would allow them to remain in place.

He also plans to allocate $180 million for settlements and outposts. The money includes millions earmarked for services such as healthcare, education, and youth clubs, as well as large sums to strengthen and expand Israel’s civilian presence in the West Bank, including 92 million shekels ($24 million), according to the organization Peace Now Settlement Watch, which received an advance copy of the proposal.

Source: The Times of Israel.