Israeli data on Wednesday revealed a major increase in the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, with a commensurate fall in the razing of illegal Israeli settlements. 

According to Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, only ten settler buildings were demolished from the start of 2023 until the end of May, in comparison to 72 settler buildings were demolished in the whole of 2022. 

In the same period this year, 124 Palestinian structures were razed, in comparison to 612 Palestinian structures were destroyed for the whole year. 

The Hebrew news site Walla reported that the Israeli security and military establishment is concerned about Bezalel Smotrich's conduct since he took up his portfolio in the Defense Ministry, believing that this will lead to more instability between Israelis and Palestinians. They also fear that there may be international repercussions to these policies.

Smotrich also reportedly started referring to Palestinians in the West Bank in official documents as Arabs.