As a leading figure on the Israeli far-right, Bezalel Smotrich has long advocated for the annexation of the West Bank. Today, as Israel's finance minister and an influential member of the Defense Ministry, he uses less-than-transparent policy levers to reshape the occupied territories in the West Bank, a discreet but decisive strategy that pushes the prospect further and further away of a two-state solution.
On August 14, Smotrich celebrated the establishment of new municipal boundaries to create the Jewish settlement of Nahal Heletz, intended to connect a significant bloc of West Bank settlements to Jerusalem. This new establishment is located in an area classified as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2014, which further accentuates international tensions.
The move is part of a broader strategy to separate Palestinian cities in the West Bank from East Jerusalem, reducing the possibility of East Jerusalem one day becoming the capital of a Palestinian state. According to Smotrich, these initiatives are his life's goal: “We will continue to fight the dangerous idea of a Palestinian state and take concrete action on the ground. »
Since coming to power in late 2022, Smotrich has taken rapid steps to strengthen Israeli control over the West Bank. He thus oversaw the creation of a civilian administration to manage the settlements, replacing the military institutions that until then governed the Israeli occupation. This administration has authority over crucial civilian issues such as road construction and issuing building permits, thereby making life easier for settlers while further marginalizing Palestinians.
As a result, land seizures, building permits and demolitions of Palestinian homes have increased significantly. Smotrich's changes are subtly woven into Israeli bureaucracy, making them difficult for the general public to understand, but they could lay the groundwork for unofficial Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
In June, the Israeli government authorized, at Smotrich's request, the creation of five new settlements, including Nahal Heletz. The latter also released tax revenue collected for the Palestinian Authority, suggesting a strategy combining compromise and expansion.
Smotrich's critics and supporters recognize his formidable effectiveness as a bureaucrat, combining political influence with deep knowledge of the complex workings of governance. This year, the scale of settlement in the West Bank reached a record level, with thousands of new homes approved, strengthening Israeli control over the territory.
While Jewish settlers in the West Bank see their quality of life improve, Palestinians are increasingly marginalized, making the establishment of a Palestinian state less and less likely. For Smotrich, these actions are not simply political gestures, but a life mission to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state.
The impact of Smotrich's policies is amplified by the current political instability in Israel, where the far right, although a minority in numbers, exerts disproportionate influence through its alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This situation allows Smotrich and his allies to advance their agenda, even in the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas, which has intensified violence in the West Bank.
Ultimately, Smotrich's actions are reshaping the landscape of the West Bank, bringing Israel closer to de facto annexation of the territory, while creating conditions that make the peaceful coexistence of two states increasingly unlikely.
