Israeli rights group slams far-right minister's comments about land grab
A prominent Israeli human rights organization has criticized calls by the country’s far-right finance minister who suggested Israel should expand its borders deeper into Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian territories.
B’Tselem said in a statement Friday that Bezalel Smotrich’s declaration “clarifies exactly the vision guiding Israel’s actions.” Similar to the genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, Israel continues to declare its intentions for widespread destruction and the occupation of southern Lebanon.”
It said the international community “continues to grant Israel immunity that allows it to spread destruction and death across the Middle East.”
Speaking at a ceremony marking the inauguration of a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Smotrich said:
“There will be a diplomatic leg in Gaza that will expand our borders, with God’s help. There will be a concluding diplomatic leg in Lebanon that will expand our borders up to the Litani (river), to defensible borders. And there will be a concluding diplomatic leg in Syria, with the crown of Mount Hermon and at least a buffer zone.”
Smotrich also spoke about the country having a “concluding diplomatic leg in Judea and Samaria that completely kills the idea of a Palestinian state,” using the biblical name for the West Bank.
Smotrich is a member of Israel’s Security Cabinet, which sets policy on security matters and authorizes major military actions. The Israeli government has not officially approved any plans to expand the borders and such a move would likely spark a huge international backlash against the country.
Israel is set to hold elections this year, and opinion polls by multiple Israeli outlets indicate Smotrich’s party is at risk of getting voted out of parliament. Meanwhile, Hamas, which has once again tightened its grip over half of Gaza, said Smotrich’s comments “undermined the ceasefire agreement signed last October.”
On Oborne Unscripted, Peter Oborne reports from Jerusalem on Good Friday, where Palestinian Christians say they are facing growing harassment and restrictions.
“I feel like I have to hide who I am, in order to maintain my safety,” says Christie Pavey, a Christian resident of Jerusalem.
One resident describes being spat on and prevented from accessing holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. “I’ve been spat on numerous times… and of course, forbidden from my holy sites.”
A report published this week documents a pattern of attacks - including vandalism, intimidation and assaults - contributing to what it describes as a climate in which Christians face a hostile environment.
“Christians feel increasingly unwelcome… pressured to conceal their identity.”
Religious traditions are also being disrupted. “Normally we would start as a group… today I’m doing it on my own.”
With many now considering leaving, residents warn that a historic community is at risk.
First they came for... Israel needs a reset or it will end up like North Korea. I doubt October elections will fix anything, the population has been radicalized so much it's not looking good for options.
