Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared Tuesday that Gaza will be "completely destroyed" and its population concentrated south of the Morag Axis as part of Israel's victory strategy, while simultaneously advancing plans to normalize settlement activity in the West Bank with investments of 7 billion shekels ($1.97 billion) in infrastructure and approval of 15,000 new housing units since the beginning of the year.
"What we're doing in this term is normalizing settlement," Smotrich said Tuesday at the Settlement Conference organized by Makor Rishon and the Ofra Settlement.
The finance minister addressed the expansion of combat operations in Gaza, saying "within a year we will be able to declare victory in Gaza." According to Smotrich, the goals are that "Gaza will be completely destroyed. All its residents concentrated south of the Morag axis and flowing outward." He said "the hostages will return and Hamas will no longer function as a political entity," but did not specify how these two things would happen.
Smotrich said "Israel does not intend to withdraw from territories the IDF captures, not even as part of a deal to release hostages." He also referred to Judea and Samaria and his comments about "normalizing settlement," stating "Since the beginning of the year, we have approved 15,000 housing units. We are investing 7 billion shekels ($1.97 billion) in roads," he said. "That's how you bring a million residents to the West Bank."
Smotrich later addressed the E1 area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, saying "In the coming months we will approve it." When asked by his interviewer, Kan News journalist Kalman Liebskind, about applying sovereignty in the area, he replied "I think it's one of our most important challenges. I think yes. I think we are at a historic opportunity. God willing, there will be sovereignty in this term."
