Bezalel Smotrich’s gradual struggle to annex the West Bank for Israel

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a leader in the Religious Zionist Party, is driving efforts to increase Israeli control over the West Bank. The recent policy changes, announced in February 2026, facilitate the seizure of Palestinian land and expansion of Israeli settlements, effectively allowing Israelis to purchase land in the West Bank as they would in Israel. Smotrich's increased control over the occupied territory was a condition for joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government in 2022. Smotrich, along with other far-right figures, has become increasingly prominent since the start of the Gaza war in 2023, pushing for continued settlement and occupation in the West Bank. His actions have drawn international criticism and are seen as a step towards annexation of the Palestinian territory.

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