Israeli Finance Minister admits to demolition of Palestinian buildings

AL QUDS, April 01 (YPA) – In a new escalation of Israeli occupation policies against Palestinians, the occupation’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who resigned from his post, admitted on Tuesday that 2024 saw the highest number of demolitions of Palestinian buildings ever in the West Bank.

Smotrich, known for his extremist views, said that the occupation must use “additional strategic tools” to win what he described as “the battle,” noting that Building and expanding new settlements is a key part of this strategy and a fundamental part of this strategy.

The occupation government claimed that the demolitions were based on the lack of legal permits for Palestinian construction, while Palestinians and human rights organizations asserted that these measures be part of a systematic policy aimed at undermining the Palestinian presence in the West Bank and strengthening illegal settlements.

Smotrich’s statements sparked angry reactions in Palestinian and international circles, with human rights organizations considering this policy a flagrant violation of international law, which prohibits the destruction of property in occupied territories.

This escalation came amid the occupation’s continued implementation of expansionist settlement projects, amid warnings of serious repercussions for the future of the two-state solution and efforts to achieve peace in the region.

AA