Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has sparked concern among US officials with his threats to cut off Palestinian authorities in the West Bank from accessing funding, potentially causing economic chaos. Smotrich has openly called for Palestinians to leave Gaza and has repeatedly threatened to withhold tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. US officials fear that Smotrich may cut Palestinian banks from Israel’s financial system in October, risking the collapse of the Palestinian Authority and worsening instability in the region.
Meetings among finance officials from G7 countries have highlighted concerns about Smotrich’s actions, including potentially imposing conditions for extending financial authorization to Palestinian banks. His rejection of calls to release Palestinian tax revenues held by Israel, based on unfounded claims that the funds would go to Hamas, has raised further alarms about his intentions.
Smotrich, a far-right settler, aims to expand Israeli presence in the occupied West Bank and restrict Palestinian rights. His aggressive stance underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, with settlement expansion exacerbating the oppression since 1967.
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