Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued a strong warning in response to countries recognizing Palestinian statehood. He threatened to establish a new settlement for each country that acknowledges Palestine as a state, stating that this would help thwart the idea of a Palestinian state that poses a threat to Israel’s existence.
Last week, the Israeli Cabinet approved plans to legalize five settlement outposts in the West Bank, which was seen as a direct response to the recognition of Palestine by five nations including Spain, Ireland, and Norway.
Smotrich, who leads the extreme Religious Zionism Party, aims to solidify Israel’s sovereignty over the West Bank and eliminate the Palestinian state’s prospects through the creation of new settlements. These outposts, established by illegal Israeli settlers on Palestinian land, are considered illegal under international law.