Experts tell MEE new arrangement makes Bezalel Smotrich ‘governor’ of West Bank and deepens the ‘colonization of Palestine.’
by Oscar Rickett, Middle East Eye
Israel transferred large sections of the occupied West Bank’s administration from the military to a far-right cabinet minister on Thursday, in a move experts say amounts to “de jure annexation”.
The transfer was agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Under the deal, Smotrich – who also serves as a minister in the defence department – will have broad authority over civilian issues in the occupied West Bank.
These include powers over unlicensed settler outposts, settlement planning and construction, and authority to appoint officials in the Civil Administration – Israel’s governing body in the West Bank.
It would mean a move from Israeli military governance, which has been the norm since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, to civilian political administration. Israel has never formally annexed the West Bank, and even if it did, its status would nonetheless remain defined by international law as a “temporary military occupation”.
Recent Posts
Israel Is Accelerating Plans to Annex Neighboring Lands
Take Action Now Israel’s ethnic cleansing of southern Lebanon and Gaza has reached a scale unseen since the Nakba. The history of Israel’s offensives…
The Democratic Party Still Hates the Left
Take Action Now The Democratic Party is terrified of even small liberal reforms and will not abide left leaning democrats thwarting their plans for…
Blanche says Trump isn’t trying to meddle with Alaska election results by suing over Senate race
Take Action Now A day after the lawsuit was filed on Thursday, Peltola called it “just flagrant, flagrant corruption in my opinion” and a diversion…
The Courage to Keep the Oath
Take Action Now Why We Must Stand with Major Jason WatsonBy Jeffrey Sterling For almost two months, an Air Force officer has been sitting alone in…