https://arab.news/ptp2a
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s recent call to “bury the idea of a Palestinian state” was not an isolated remark but part of a concerning pattern that undermines the very principles upon which Israel was founded. In 2023, he declared the Palestinian people to be “an invention” and called for the West Bank village of Huwara to be “wiped out” — statements that have generated distress both among Palestinians and within the international community, including Israel’s closest allies. Such rhetoric, especially from a senior government official, risks eroding Israel’s moral standing, weakening its diplomatic relationships and threatening the foundations of its security.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has similarly contributed to heightened tensions, asserting that his “rights in the Land of Israel are more important” than those of Palestinians and advocating for changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount. Such actions and words carry the risk of igniting further instability in the region. The cumulative effect of these statements is to strain Israel’s relationships with its allies, threaten its long-term security and make the path to coexistence more difficult for future generations.
