Tel Aviv, PNN –
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans to dismantle the Civil Administration in the West Bank, signalling a push toward annexing the territory into Israel. Speaking with Civil Administration officials, Smotrich described this move as a critical step toward achieving what he called "full normalization" and integrating Israeli government ministries into the area.
"We have a significant opportunity alongside the new U.S. administration to create full normalization and bring government ministries here," Smotrich said, according to Yedioth Ahronoth on Friday. “This is a vision for the Day of Reckoning, and we can achieve it.
Smotrich stated that the proposal had been discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was planned for implementation during the tenure of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He also revealed plans to seize over 24,000 dunams (approximately 6,000 acres) of Palestinian land in the West Bank to expand Israeli settlements.
The minister added, “We are working on a detailed plan to bring this vision to the table. I have also spoken with the designated Israeli ambassador to Washington, Yehiel Light, and we aim to achieve significant progress on this issue.”
Implications of Dismantling the Civil Administration
The Civil Administration, a unit of the Israeli Defence Forces, is responsible for providing civil services to approximately 250,000 Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank, which constitutes 60% of the territory and remains under Israeli civil and military control per the Oslo Accords.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the dismantling of this unit would mark a "de facto annexation" of the West Bank. Israeli ministries would be compelled to provide direct services to residents of the area, further integrating it into Israel's administrative framework.
Smotrich has worked since assuming his role in the Defence Ministry to make the annexation plan operational. However, the proposal raises significant legal and diplomatic challenges, including questions about its compliance with international law and the status of Palestinian residents in Area C after the Civil Administration is dissolved.
The proposal underscores Israel's long-standing strategy to consolidate control over the West Bank, a move likely to draw sharp criticism from the international community. The dismantling of the Civil Administration, if implemented, could represent a significant shift in the region’s geopolitical landscape.
