Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, en route to the security cabinet meeting, said the villages of Tel, Iraq Burin, and Beit Furik should resemble the refugee camps in Shechem and Tulkarm. He also said he will demand that Prime Minister Netanyahu approve the establishment of a settlement at the outpost of Sela, near the site of a recent terror attack, by transferring the area from Area B to Area C.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made the remarks en route to a security cabinet meeting on Friday, according to a statement from his office. The three villages — Tel, Iraq Burin, and Beit Furik — are located in the northern Samaria region. Smotrich's demand to establish a settlement at the outpost of Sela, by transferring the area from Area B (under Palestinian civil control) to Area C (full Israeli control), would require government approval. The outpost is near the site of a recent terror attack, which Smotrich referenced as justification for the move. The comparison of the villages to refugee camps in Shechem and Tulkarm drew immediate controversy. Smotrich has been a leading advocate for settlement expansion in Judea and Samaria, and has repeatedly called for punitive measures against Palestinian communities following attacks on Israelis. The security cabinet meeting was expected to discuss broader security measures in the region.
- ConfirmedSmotrich orders expedited establishment of new settlement, demolition of illegal structures after Samaria terror attack
- DevelopingSmotrich warns Bennett government would evacuate new West Bank outposts, establish Palestinian state
- DevelopingSmotrich warns of EU-backed plot to reverse West Bank settlement drive
- StrongSmotrich says Settlement Administration ready to build three settlements in northern Gaza
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