Bezalel Smotrich on Defence Ministry

Bezalel Smotrich, in his capacity as both Finance Minister and a minister within Israel's Defence Ministry, has used his portfolio to push for the extension of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, known by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria. He has openly stated that his life's mission is to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state, aiming to establish sovereignty on the ground before formalizing it through legislation, including plans to legalize illegal outposts. As a minister in the Defence Ministry, he oversees the Civil Administration, which manages the occupied territory, and has been instrumental in quietly transferring legal powers from the military command to civilian officials under his purview.

This transfer of authority, which covers areas like building regulations and land management, was reportedly designed to ease the international and legal implications of annexation by making it appear the military remained the primary governing body. His stated goal is to embed facts on the ground through the expansion of settlements and infrastructure. Furthermore, Smotrich has been involved in budgetary disputes with the Defence Ministry in his finance role, accusing the defense establishment of overspending without proper oversight, highlighting his direct involvement in the ministry's operations and finances.