Feb 18 • 17:17 UTC 🇳🇴 Norway Aftenposten

Israeli minister wants Palestinians to 'emigrate' from the West Bank and Gaza

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for the immigration of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, proposing to nullify the Oslo Accords as a means to establish Israeli sovereignty.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that the only viable solution for Israel involves the complete nullification of the Oslo Accords and encourages the emigration of Palestinians from both the West Bank and Gaza. During an event hosted by the Religious Zionist Party, which Smotrich leads, he expressed a desire to formally and practically revoke the Oslo Accords and pursue a path toward national sovereignty. He emphasized the need for Palestinians to leave these territories, referring to the West Bank using the biblical names Judea and Samaria, a terminology favored by religious Jews and Israeli nationalists who have historically contested the presence of Palestinians in the area.

Smotrich's remarks reflect a stance associated with the far-right faction within Israel's government, which many observers regard as one of the most extreme administrations in the nation's history. He characterized the existing situation in these territories as a 'long-term problem' that can only be resolved through the expulsion of Palestinians, whom he referred to derogatorily. Furthermore, he indicated a desire to eradicate what he described as an 'Arab terror state' idea, hinting at significant policy shifts that could lead to increased tensions and potential dispossession of Palestinians.

The implications of Smotrich's statements are profound, raising concerns about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations and the fate of the two-state solution. His position may open doors to increased nationalist sentiments and actions that could lead to further destabilization in the region. Analysts suggest that this rhetoric may not only impact local Palestinian communities but could also escalate violence and conflict, given the already fraught historical context and ongoing tensions in Israeli-Palestinian interactions.

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