Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also reportedly known as the de facto “governor” of the West Bank, has unveiled a plan to annex 82% of the West Bank and squeeze the Palestinian population into the remaining 18%. Under the proposal, only six isolated enclaves—where major Palestinian cities, such as Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho, and Hebron are located—would remain outside of Israeli control, Middle East Eye reported yesterday. All other areas, including dozens of towns and villages, would be formally annexed. Smotrich described the principle behind the plan as taking control of “maximum land with minimum [Palestinian] population.”
“Judea and Samaria,” as Israel terms the West Bank, “are not disputed territory; they are the inheritance of our ancestors for generations,” Smotrich claimed. “There will never, and can never be, a Palestinian state in our land.”
MEE reports that Smotrich’s plan has no legal authority, but is meant to increase the pressure towards eventual annexation.
