In a striking move, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is making headlines with a bold declaration after Donald Trump’s recent victory in the U.S. presidential elections. During a meeting with his far-right Religious Zionism party, Smotrich was all fired up, claiming it’s prime time to “apply sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank. Trump’s win, to him, is like finding a golden ticket in your chocolate bar—an “important opportunity,” he called it.
Smotrich isn’t just talking the talk; he’s walking the walk. He’s given his team the green light to start setting up the groundwork for annexing the West Bank. This means some serious desk work for Israeli authorities who’ll be busy prepping infrastructure to extend their reach. Smotrich wears many hats in the government. Besides crunching numbers in the finance ministry, he’s got a hands-on role in defense, particularly when it comes to the controversial settlements sprouting like wild mushrooms in West Bank and East Jerusalem.
He Is Happy!
The minister and his far-right comrades couldn’t be happier about the orange-haired billionaire-turned-politician’s resurgence. They’re hoping for a thumbs-up from the Trump administration to officially call dibs on lands captured way back in 1967. While Israel has already called ‘mine’ on East Jerusalem and Syria’s Golan Heights—not to the world’s agreement—they banked on Washington’s nod during Trump’s first term. Remember those tense years between 2017 and 2021?
Vibes are that Smotrich’s now on a mission from, well, Smotrich, to get the new Trump team to back their play for the West Bank. It wasn’t too long ago they nearly went all-in on Area C but got cold feet thanks to global naysaying and a bit of peer pressure from the U.S. They pressed pause, but not stop.
He’s no stranger to stirring the pot. Just last month, Smotrich was out there saying Israel should spread its wings ” little by little” until it reaches Damascus. Yeah, you heard that right! He starred in a documentary called “In Israel: Ministers of Chaos,” where he waxed poetic about “greater Israel,” daydreaming about borders stretching across the Middle East.
But while Smotrich and his party cheer this moment like it’s a New Year’s countdown, it’s a head-scratcher for many watching from the sidelines, raising eyebrows and concerns. The world waits, watches, and wonders what’s next in this long saga tweaked by political twists and ideological turns.
