Israel’s far-right finance minister is doubling down on his calls to encourage Palestinians in Gaza to leave the territory despite an international outcry, including from the United States. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, Bezalel Smotrich wrote that 70% of Israelis support “voluntary migration” for Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, saying that Israel couldn’t allow itself to live so close to a “hotbed of hate.” He did not say where the figure came from. Smotrich, a champion of West Bank settlements, drew criticism from the U.S., Egypt, Germany and France after he made similar comments earlier this week while calling on Israel to reestablish settlements in the Gaza Strip. The State Department said his comments were “inflammatory and irresponsible.”
Quick Read
- Smotrich’s Advocacy for Palestinian Migration: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his far-right stance, continues to advocate for the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, despite international criticism. Smotrich claims that 70% of Israelis support this idea, although he did not provide a source for this statistic.
- International Outcry: Smotrich’s comments have drawn criticism from several countries, including the United States, Egypt, Germany, and France. These statements are viewed as inflammatory and counterproductive to peace efforts.
- Historical Context: The notion of mass displacement is particularly sensitive for Palestinians, recalling the events of 1948 when approximately 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forced to leave during the war that led to Israel’s establishment.
- Smotrich in Israeli Politics: Despite being a key figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nationalist and conservative government, Smotrich is not part of the War Cabinet currently addressing the Gaza conflict.
- South Africa’s Accusations at the International Court of Justice: South Africa has referenced statements by Israeli officials like Smotrich in its case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
- Germany’s Response: Germany, a close ally of Israel, has strongly criticized the comments made by Smotrich and another Israeli minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, stating that such ideas are unacceptable and contradict the principle of a two-state solution.
- Macron’s Warning: French President Emmanuel Macron has also spoken against the forced displacement of Gazans, emphasizing that such actions would be contrary to the pursuit of peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
- U.S. Condemnation: The Biden administration has condemned the comments by Smotrich and Ben Gvir as irresponsible and inflammatory, clarifying that such statements do not reflect the official policy of the Israeli government. The U.S. maintains that Gaza should remain Palestinian territory without the control of Hamas or other terror groups threatening Israel.
The Associated Press has the story:
US, Egypt, France & Germany criticize Israeli far-right finance minister’s resettlement comments
Newslooks- JERUSALEM
Israel’s far-right finance minister is doubling down on his calls to encourage Palestinians in Gaza to leave the territory despite an international outcry, including from the United States.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, Bezalel Smotrich wrote that 70% of Israelis support “voluntary migration” for Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, saying that Israel couldn’t allow itself to live so close to a “hotbed of hate.” He did not say where the figure came from.
Smotrich, a champion of West Bank settlements, drew criticism from the U.S., Egypt, Germany and France after he made similar comments earlier this week while calling on Israel to reestablish settlements in the Gaza Strip. The State Department said his comments were “inflammatory and irresponsible.”
Talk of mass displacement brings up difficult memories for Palestinians, some 700,000 of whom fled or were forced to flee during the war leading to Israel’s creation in 1948.
Smotrich is a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Israel’s most nationalist and conservative. He has largely been sidelined by the War Cabinet that does not include him.
South Africa has cited statements by some Israeli officials as part of its argument at the International Court of Justice that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
GERMANY JOINS CRITICISM OF ISRAELI MINISTERS’ RESETTLEMENT COMMENTS
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said Wednesday that Berlin, a close ally of Israel, rejects the comments by Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir “in the strongest terms” and that “they are neither useful nor helpful.”
He underlined the position of Germany and its Group of Seven allies that “there must be no expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, there must be no territorial reduction of the Gaza Strip.”
He added that “from our point of view, a two-state solution remains the only sustainable model for Israelis and Palestinians to live together peacefully.”
MACRON WARNS ISRAEL AGAINST FORCED DISPLACEMENT IN GAZA
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Israel against contemplating a forced displacement of Gaza residents.
In a phone call on Tuesday with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet, Macron “argued that statements relating to the forced displacement of Gazans were unacceptable and contradicted the two-state solution which constitutes the only viable solution for a return to peace and security for all,” the president’s office said in an overnight readout of the phone call.
Macron also warned against the risk of spreading conflict, saying it is “essential to avoid any escalatory attitude, particularly in Lebanon,” the statement said. “France will continue to pass these messages to all actors involved directly or indirectly in the area,” it added.
US SLAMS ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’ COMMENTS OF FAR-RIGHT ISRAELI MINISTERS
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has spoken out against the comments of two far-right Israeli ministers who recently called for Palestinians to be resettled outside of Gaza.
In a statement Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir’s comments “inflammatory and irresponsible.”
On Sunday, Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, said Israel should “encourage migration” from Gaza and re-establish Jewish settlements in the territory, where it withdrew settlers and soldiers in 2005. Ben Gvir has made similar comments about resettling Palestinians.
Miller said Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have “repeatedly” told the U.S. leaders that “such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government.”
“Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel,” Miller said.
