RAMALLAH /PNN/

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel is pursuing what he described as “decisive political measures” in the occupied West Bank that would effectively eliminate the prospect of a Palestinian state, reflecting hardline positions within the current Israeli government.

In remarks reported by Israeli media, Smotrich said the measures aim to “end the idea of partition” and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, which he described as a “terror state.”

He added that the approach would extend beyond the West Bank to include the Gaza Strip, where he said Israel would seek to “expand its borders,” as well as Lebanon “up to the Litani River,” and Syria, including control over strategic areas such as Mount Hermon and the establishment of a buffer zone.

The comments come amid ongoing escalation in the Palestinian territories, with the war in Gaza continuing and Israeli military operations intensifying in the West Bank.

Smotrich, a far-right leader and a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, has long advocated expanding settlements in the West Bank and opposes the two-state solution.

About 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, alongside hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers in settlements widely considered illegal under international law.

International actors have repeatedly warned that unilateral steps or further military escalation could deepen tensions and instability in the region.