Religious Zionism leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich formally gained responsibilities over Jewish civilian matters on Thursday that he said included bringing their legal status closer to that of communities within Israel.
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Smotrich wields a supervisory role for settlers in the Defense Ministry as part of his coalition deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, prompting increased US focus on Israel's West Bank policies.
A 14-point statement issued by Smotrich after he agreed on a division of roles with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant included the assertion that "legislation on all [settlement] civilian matters will be brought into line with Israeli law."
Smotrich said he would now also have "total responsibility" over zoning, surveys, and sales of West Bank lands for settlers. Confirming the Smotrich-Gallant agreement, Netanyahu said it was pursuant to the coalition deals.
The platform of Smotrich's Religious Zionism party calls for advancing West Bank settlement in the face of "a complex US administration" by focusing dialogue on "the extent of sovereignty Israel will assert and the scale of construction and retroactive authorization (of unsanctioned settler outposts)".
If formal annexation is not possible due to US opposition, it adds, "de facto assertion of sovereignty should be pursued".
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