"No anti-Israel or anti-Zionist decision will stop the development of the settlement," Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionist Party and is himself a settler, stated defiantly. His remarks underscored a broader objective aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. This reflects a commitment to settlement expansion, which he characterized as a mission of his life, coinciding with military actions against Palestinian cities. Such statements highlight the contentious approaches influencing Israeli policies on territorial claims and settlement strategy.
Tariq Kenney-Shawa from Al-Shabaka noted, "Israel has for decades been pursuing a maximalist policy of expansion in the West Bank. However, the current far-right governing coalition is accelerating efforts to formalize this de facto reality on the ground. The tactics employed may vary, but the ultimate goal remains the same: expansion and annexation, which have intensified in the wake of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks. Analysts emphasize that these developments illustrate an alarming trend in Israeli governance and military approaches in occupied territories."
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