Portrait of Bezalel Smotrich
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Bezalel Smotrich on Jordan

Annexation advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Bezalel Smotrich advocates for the full annexation of the West Bank, implying a diminished or altered future for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Key Points

  • He strongly asserts that there is no such thing as a Palestinian people, framing the population as simply Israeli Arabs, which underpins his annexationist policies.

  • His political ideology is associated with promoting annexation of West Bank territory, a move that has been flagged as a significant source of tension with Jordan.

  • Smotrich has been noted for challenging the historical basis for Palestinian national identity in interviews and public statements.

Summary

Bezalel Smotrich, in his capacity as Finance Minister and a leading figure in the Religious Zionist party, maintains a strong ideological stance centered on the annexation of the entire West Bank, often referred to as Judea and Samaria, which directly impacts the regional status of Jordan. His vision, frequently tied to the concept of 'Greater Israel,' suggests a comprehensive Israeli sovereignty over these territories, which would inherently shift the geopolitical balance regarding Jordan's current role and its relationship with the West Bank. This position is rooted in his religious and nationalistic worldview, which often minimizes or outright rejects the premise of an independent Palestinian state.

This perspective implies that the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan may face strain or require fundamental re-evaluation should such annexation occur, as the Hashemite Kingdom has a significant interest in maintaining the status quo, especially concerning holy sites in Jerusalem. While he has not directly called for the annexation of Jordan itself, his uncompromising stance on the West Bank is viewed by regional analysts as fundamentally incompatible with the existing two-state framework and poses a clear challenge to Jordanian security and territorial interests.

Key Quotes

"There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. There is no Palestinian history. There is no Palestinian language,"

"Little by little,"

Frequently Asked Questions

Bezalel Smotrich's core position is the full annexation of the West Bank, which he calls Judea and Samaria. This stance is seen as fundamentally threatening to the current regional order, especially concerning the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and its established security arrangements.

Smotrich's publicly stated ideological commitment to annexing the West Bank has remained strong and consistent. His vision of 'Greater Israel' implies a complete Israeli sovereignty that would significantly alter the geopolitical landscape relevant to Jordan.

Bezalel Smotrich has controversially stated that there is no such thing as a Palestinian people. He views the residents of the area as being part of the broader Israeli population, a view that directly contradicts the premise of an independent Jordanian-allied state.