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'Do there what we did in Gaza': Smotrich calls for full-scale war in occupied West Bank
'Do there what we did in Gaza': Smotrich calls for full-scale war in occupied West Bank
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for Israel to “go to war” in the occupied West Bank and “do there what we did in Gaza”, as the country heads towards general elections next month.
Smotrich, the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, in an interview with Ynet’s 120 and One political podcast, also reasserted his demand for dismantling the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the occupied West Bank.
The call for a full-scale Israeli war comes amid relentless settler violence and movement restrictions across the West Bank.
On Sunday, Israeli authorities ordered a "comprehensive closure" of the crossings into the occupied territory for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Israeli forces tightened restrictions around the West Bank city of Ramallah, closing roads and entrances to several towns and villages, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
Local sources told Wafa that the entrance gate to Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, was closed and residents were “harassed”.
Wafa also reported that entrances to Aboud, Nabi Saleh, Atara and Taybeh were closed, while military checkpoints were set up at the entrances to Yabroud and Ein Sinyah.
Smotrich, who is a leading advocate of expanding illegal Israeli settlements and extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, also defended his wider political agenda ahead of the 27 October elections.
Read more: Smotrich calls for full-scale war in occupied West Bank
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is surrounded by Israeli settlers during a settlement ceremony of Sa-Nur, in the occupied West Bank, on 19 April 2026 (Marco Longari/AFP)
