Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for war in occupied West Bank

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for Israel to launch a full-scale military campaign in the occupied West Bank, demanding that the military replicate its destruction from Gaza in the territory. Smotrich, who leads the far-right Religious Zionism party, made the remarks during an interview with Ynet’s “120 and One” political podcast on Sunday, September 27.

Referring to the occupied territory by its biblical name, Smotrich asserted that Israel must eliminate armed groups, weapons, and tunnels across Judea and Samaria. Alongside his call for war, the minister renewed his demand to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, labeling it a terror authority.

Military Closures and Movement Restrictions

Smotrich’s statements arrived as Israeli authorities enforced a comprehensive closure of crossings into the occupied territory for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. According to the Palestinian official news agency Wafa, Israeli forces tightened restrictions around Ramallah, closing roads and entrances to several towns and villages, including Turmus Ayya, Aboud, Nabi Saleh, Atara, and Taybeh, while establishing military checkpoints at Yabroud and Ein Sinyah. Al Jazeera reported that these military restrictions are scheduled to remain in effect through October 3.

Simultaneously, in East Jerusalem, hundreds of Israelis entered the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Moroccan Gate under heavy police protection, performing rituals while security forces restricted movement throughout the Old City, as reported by Wafa.

Territorial Ambitions and Wider Conflict

Smotrich’s aggressive posture extends beyond the West Bank. During the interview, he called for Israel to annex at least up to the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon. He argued that ending the ongoing conflicts along their original borders would fail to prevent future violence. His remarks coincide with general elections next month.

Rejecting political coalition options with rival blocs or Arab-led parties such as Raam, Smotrich defended his alliance within the national camp. He also criticized former military officer Ofer Winter for launching a competing political party, dismissing it as an irresponsible gamble.

Indicator / Source	Reported Figures	Context
Settler Attacks (UN Ocha)	Over 1,330 incidents (Jan–mid-July)	Averaging about six attacks a day, marking the highest rate in roughly two decades.
Palestinian Casualties (Wafa)	At least 1,206 killed (including 254 children)	Recorded in the West Bank since October 2023.
Settler Injuries (UN Ocha)	850 injuries (Jan–July 2026)	Averaging more than three injuries a day attributed to settler attacks.
Movement Obstacles (UN Ocha)	925 obstacles recorded (Dec 2025)	Checkpoints, gates, barriers, and permit restrictions severely restricting Palestinian movement.
Land Takeovers (Peace Now)	More than 100,000 dunams (10,000 hectares)	Land taken over by settlers in Areas A and B of the West Bank.

Escalating Violence and Legal Context

The escalation unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying settler violence and encroaching settlement outposts. According to a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) report from August, Israeli settlement outposts previously concentrated in Area C have increasingly expanded into Area B, utilizing violence and threats to restrict Palestinian access to land. Human rights organizations note that settlers involved in these attacks frequently wear military uniforms and carry military-issued weapons.

International legal frameworks continue to clash with Israeli policy in the region. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful, stating that all settlement activity must cease and that measures separating settlers from Palestinians violate the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The United Nations has repeatedly maintained that Israeli settlements hold no legal validity under international law.

Next Steps

Movement restrictions and the comprehensive military closure across the occupied West Bank are set to remain in place until October 3. Meanwhile, the political landscape faces imminent shifts as Israel heads toward general elections next month, while separate diplomatic talks concerning an Israeli military withdrawal and the disarmament of Hezbollah in Lebanon continue.