The extremist Smotrich, who also serves as the de facto occupation governor of the West Bank, made the comments Tuesday, Nov. 26. He spoke at a conference that day organized by the Yesha Council, an umbrella group representing municipalities of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to The Cradle, Smotrich himself is a leader of a settler group.
"It is possible to create a situation where Gaza's population will be reduced to half its current size in two years," he remarked. "Occupying Gaza is not a dirty word. We can occupy Gaza and thin the population by half within two years [by means of] voluntary emigration."
Smotrich continued that the move "won't cost too much money," noting that Israelis "should not be afraid to pay for it."
"It is the only way. If the cost of security control is five billion shekels [$1.37 billion], I will accept it with open arms," Smotrich added. "If that is what it takes to ensure the security of Israel, then so be it."
According to the Times of Israel, Smotrich isn't the only fan of "voluntary emigration" – Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, another extremist, also espouses it. Critics of the policy have also pointed out that "voluntary emigration" is a "euphemism for forced displacement – a war crime."
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied that Israel intends to resettle the [Gaza] Strip, despite members from his own Likud party being outspokenly in favor of the idea," the Times of Israel continued. "While Netanyahu has also rejected the idea of Israel permanently occupying the Strip, his failure to advance a viable alternative to Hamas rule has made the scenario increasingly likely, critics say."
Smotrich: Gaza policy could be applied to the West Bank
Smotrich said during the conference that if the "encouraged migration" turns out successful in Gaza, it could be repeated in the West Bank – home to three million Palestinians. True enough, The Cradle said participants at the summit met to strategize how to expand Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza under the incoming second administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. (Related: Israel declares major LAND GRAB in West Bank.)
According to the Times of Israel, the finance minister – who also chairs the Mafdal-Religious Zionism Party in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) – has long spoken in favor of annexing large parts of the West Bank. He declared earlier this month that Trump's election victory offers an opportunity to see that vision through.
"This is a possibility that opens up with the new [Trump] administration. The less we talk about it, the more we can do," said Smotrich. "As in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], there is an inverse relationship between declarations and statements, and practice."
He further proposed that the Israeli Ground Forces (IGF) should be responsible for managing the civilian affairs of Palestinians in Gaza under a military occupation government. The IGF should also establish a civil administration to rule Gaza in the way it did before 2005.
Under a disengagement plan that year overseen by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Tel Aviv withdraw its forces and Jewish settlements from Gaza. Since then, Israel has asserted its control through blockades and sieges on the Strip.
Smotrich also called for Tel Aviv to allow for the collapse of the Palestinian National Authority (PA), which would open the door further for direct Israeli military rule. While Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, the PA under its President Mahmoud Abbas rules the West Bank.
The Cradle mentioned that the Israel Defense Forces has been implementing the so-called "Generals' Plan" since October to forcibly displace Palestinians from the whole of northern Gaza. Under the plan, forced evacuation orders are issued to residents of the area before the IDF lays siege to the region. Those who refused to heed the orders face starvation and death as Israeli forces cut off food and aid.
Head over to IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories.
Watch this clip of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the annexation of the West Bank and claiming Palestine doesn't exist.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
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