Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is attempting to prevent the occupied West Bank from becoming part of an independent Palestinian State, according to a speech he made to Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Smotrich announced in his 9 June speech that he is implementing a programme that was turning over the military administration of the occupied West Bank to administrators in the Defence Ministry.
Smotrich told the settlers that the changes he’s making to the administration of the West Bank are “mega-dramatic” and that “such changes change a system’s DNA”, according to a report from the New York Times.
According to reports, he said “a separate civilian system” was created, and to avoid international scrutiny, the government has allowed the Defense ministry to stay involved in the process.
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which has been ongoing since 1967, has seen a military governor running a military administration of West Bank affairs. ….more
