In a controversial address, Israeli far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed intentions to abolish the notion of an Arab state and called for practical measures to facilitate Palestinian emigration from both Gaza and the West Bank, areas he refers to by their biblical names. Smotrich stated the goal is to formally eliminate the Oslo Accords, which have governed relations between Israel and Palestinians since the 1990s, suggesting that the only viable long-term solution to the conflict is the permanent removal of Palestinian presence in these territories.

The Israeli government has recently approved a series of measures backed by far-right ministers aimed at tightening control over the West Bank, further complicating the already fraught situation for Palestinians. This includes a process for registering land as state property and facilitating land purchases by Jewish Israelis. Smotrich emphasized that this approach is necessary to ensure Israel's sovereignty and to counter what he perceives as a demographic threat from the Palestinian population in the region.

The international response has been swift and critical, with a joint statement from 85 countries condemning the new Israeli policies and calling for the protection of Palestinian rights under international law. This growing international condemnation reflects concerns about the implications of such actions for peace efforts in the region and the broader implications for stability in the Middle East, indicating that Israel could face increased diplomatic backlash if it continues on this path.