Benjamin Netanyahu met with French President Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Maariv)
The Biden administration has warned the Israeli government that it will treat any transfer of powers in the West Bank to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as a measure of annexation, two senior Israeli and American officials familiar with the talks between the parties told Walla.
why is it important
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to decide soon whether and how to implement the coalition agreement, which states that Smotrich will take over the authority to coordinate operations in the territories and the civil administration with regard to civilian issues in the West Bank.
These powers mainly concern the settlements and their status.
Will he get powers over the status of the settlements?
Smotrich (Photo: Reuven Castro)
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In the news center
Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf visited Israel and held talks in Jerusalem with National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and other senior Israeli officials, in an attempt to promote measures to curb the escalation in the West Bank.
Senior Israeli and American officials said that Leaf told Hanegbi and other senior Israeli officials that the Biden administration was concerned about the possibility that some of the powers in the West Bank would pass from Defense Minister Yoav Galant to the hands of Minister Smotrich, who, in addition to his position as Treasury Minister, also serves as Minister of Defense.
Leaf told Hanegbi and the other Israeli officials that such a step would further complicate the situation in the West Bank at a time when efforts must be made to calm the area, and would be considered by the Biden administration as a step in the direction of annexing the West Bank on the part of the Israeli government.
Senior officials in the Ministry of Defense and the IDF told the Assistant Secretary of State and other officials in the American administration that they are strongly opposed to any transfer of authority in the West Bank to Smotrich, and are concerned about the consequences of such a move.
Afraid of measures that could set the West Bank on fire.
Biden (Photo: Reuters)
The big picture
Since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, it has administered the territory under "belligerent seizure" from a legal point of view and in accordance with the laws of occupation, and this in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
Israel has never annexed parts of the West Bank.
Although the settlements expanded significantly over the years, they did not receive the same status as settlements within Israel, and received many services from the Civil Administration or by virtue of military orders from the General of the Central Command.
Smotrich and his supporters in the settlements lobby have been trying for many years to "normalize" the status of the settlements and make it the same as settlements inside Israel.
The transfer of powers from the IDF to civilian government offices, which Smotrich is interested in promoting, is a significant step in this direction.
will have to decide.
Netanyahu (photo: official website, Alex Kolomoisky)
the situation picture
According to the coalition agreement, Smotrich is supposed to receive the authority to coordinate operations in the territories and the civil administration, which are responsible for civil policy in the West Bank.
These powers, which are currently in the hands of the Minister of Defense, will give him enormous influence over the settlements and the civil policy towards the Palestinians who live in Area C, which is 60% of the West Bank.
Defense Minister Gallant strongly opposes any transfer of powers from the Ministry of Defense to Smotrich's hands.
Several meetings held between Glamet and Smotrich on the subject and additional meetings in which Netanyahu also participated ended without results.
Netanyahu asked the two ministers to submit their proposals and positions to him regarding the implementation of the coalition agreement and the issue of powers so that he would receive a decision on the matter.
Smotrich has many levers of pressure on Netanyahu and Gallant, both due to his control over the budget and due to his ability to overthrow the government if his demands are not accepted.
what are they saying
A spokesman for the US State Department said that the Biden administration believes it is critical for Israel and the Palestinians to avoid unilateral steps that would exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to advance negotiations on a two-state solution, such as steps towards annexation of territories.
"Additional application of the Israeli civil law in the West Bank is definitely a step of this type," said the spokesperson from the US State Department.
The Prime Minister's office refused to comment on the matter.
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Political-political
Tags
Benjamin Netanyahu
Bezalel Smotrich
Joe Biden
settlements
Ministry of Defence
