The US State Department condemned Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich Wednesday for suggesting Israel "wipe out" the Palestinian village of Hawara in the West Bank.
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Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that Smotrich's comments "were irresponsible. They were repugnant. They were disgusting."
Video: Reuters
"And just as we condemn Palestinian incitement to violence, we condemn these provocative remarks that also amount to incitement to violence," he added.
The finance minister's remarks came several hours after two Israelis – brothers Hallel and Yagel Yaniv from the nearby Jewish settlement of Har Bracha – were killed by a terrorist while waiting in traffic in Hawara.
He later clarified on Twitter saying that he did not mean to imply that Hawara should be erased, but that Israel should focus on eradicating terrorism in the village and "exact a heavy priсe from them to restore security to the residents of the area."
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
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