- Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Finance Minister, has called for a full-scale war in the occupied West Bank, urging Israeli forces to 'do there what we did in Gaza' and dismantle the Palestinian Authority, which he labeled a terror authority.
- Israeli authorities have announced a comprehensive military closure across the occupied West Bank for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which will remain in effect until October 3.
- Smotrich has also rejected the idea of a unity government and criticized Ofer Winter's new political party ahead of the upcoming elections on October 27.
- In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and that new settlement activity must cease.
- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported 925 movement obstacles in the West Bank as of December 2025, severely restricting Palestinian movement.
- As of July 2026, OCHA reported that 850 Palestinians had been injured in settler attacks since the start of 2026, highlighting ongoing violence in the region.
- In an August report, OCHA noted that Israeli settlement outposts were increasingly encroaching into Area B, which is under limited Palestinian Authority control.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has intensified calls for military action in the West Bank, stating, “go to war in Judea and Samaria, to do there what we did in Gaza, to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, which is a terror authority.”12
This statement reflects a broader agenda as Israel approaches general elections on October 27, with Smotrich advocating for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank.56
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported over 1,330 settler-related attacks on Palestinians from January to late July, marking the highest rate in two decades. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Smotrich's remarks, linking them to ongoing Israeli policies that result in the killing and displacement of Palestinians and the expansion of illegal settlements.8
As part of the Sukkot holiday, Israeli authorities have imposed a comprehensive military closure across the West Bank, tightening restrictions on Palestinian movement until October 3. Reports indicate that roads and entrances to towns around Ramallah have been closed, with military checkpoints established in various locations.34
Smotrich, a prominent figure in the far-right Religious Zionism party, has defended his political stance, rejecting any coalition with rival parties and asserting that “there is a 99.9 percent chance” that a new political party led by former military officer Ofer Winter will fail to gain traction.
“The call comes as OCHA recorded over 1,330 settler attacks on Palestinians from January to late July, averaging six a day, the highest in 20 years. Israeli authorities have also imposed a comprehensive military closure for Sukkot, set to last until October 3.”
Middle East Eye
