Israeli Government Transfers West Bank Powers to Pro-Settler Civil Servants Under Smotrich

Jun 21, 2024, 09:44 PM

The Israeli government has quietly transferred significant legal powers in the occupied West Bank from the Israeli military to pro-settler civil servants. This administrative change, led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, is seen as an effort to solidify control over the territory without formally annexing it. Smotrich's plan involves placing key responsibilities under administrators who answer directly to him, bypassing traditional military oversight. The move, part of a process that has been ongoing for 18 months, has sparked concerns about annexation and has been described as a stealthy effort to irreversibly change the governance of the West Bank. Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is also implicated in this effort.