Smotrich Demands Expansion of Israel's Borders, Describes Palestinians as 'Axis of Evil'

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made controversial statements, calling for the necessity of expanding Israel's geographical borders to include wider areas in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria. Smotrich claimed that this step is essential to provide defensible borders from a security and topographical perspective, considering that the current lines do not meet the strategic needs of the Hebrew state.

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, the far-right minister described Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as an integral part of what he called the 'Iranian axis of evil'. He stressed that the 1967 borders lack the necessary geographical depth, making them unsuitable for protecting Israel's security in light of current regional challenges.

Smotrich strongly defended settlers in the West Bank, describing them as among the 'least violent people', and considering international reports of their attacks as mere disinformation campaigns. He affirmed that all settlement movements in the occupied territories are carried out in full coordination with the American administration, indicating ongoing understandings in this regard.

The Finance Minister clarified that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully supports plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, noting that the government continues its settlement activity at an accelerating pace. He expressed hope that Israel will succeed in the future in convincing the administration of President Donald Trump of the necessity of applying full Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank territories.

Smotrich had renewed his public calls for the full re-occupation of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of settlement blocs within it, during an official event attended by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These calls come in the context of a government policy aimed at changing the demographic and geographical reality in areas that the United Nations classifies as occupied territories.

Field data indicates that the number of settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has reached about 750,000 people, distributed among hundreds of settlements and pastoral outposts. Human rights reports confirm that these expansions aim to forcibly displace Palestinians and undermine any opportunity for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the future.

Since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the pace of military operations and settler attacks in the West Bank has escalated unprecedentedly. Medical and human rights sources reported the martyrdom of at least 1150 Palestinians and the injury of thousands of others, amid widespread arrest campaigns that affected about 22,000 Palestinian citizens.

Smotrich's statements reflect the far-right tendencies within the current Israeli government, which took office at the end of 2022. These policies face widespread international condemnation, as most countries and international organizations consider them a blatant violation of international law and a fundamental obstacle to achieving peace in the region.

The 1967 borders are indefensible, and Israel needs broader borders in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria to confront threats.