Smotrich: No Reconstruction for Gaza Without Disarming Hamas and Achieving Complete Victory and the Palestinian Authority Must Be Dismantled

Translation by SadaNews - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the upcoming visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump should focus on ensuring that there is no retreat from the main goal of the war, which is the complete elimination of Hamas, asserting that Israel has not yet achieved what he described as the 'absolute victory' it committed to. Smotrich emphasized that any future arrangements in the Gaza Strip must be based on a set of non-negotiable conditions, the most important of which is that no reconstruction process should begin without the complete disarmament of Hamas, preventing any presence of Hamas in the sector after the war, and rejecting any direct or indirect role for the Palestinian Authority in managing Gaza. He also reiterated his rejection of introducing multinational international forces to areas that Israel considers within its responsibility according to Sada News translation, indicating that the task of dismantling Hamas and disarming the sector should be carried out outside those areas. He added that Israel will not bear the costs of rebuilding Gaza, placing the responsibility for what he described as the costs of the war imposed on Israel since October 7, 2023, on the residents of the sector. Regarding internal matters, Smotrich called for bringing the issue of the West Bank to the negotiating table with the U.S. administration, considering that the Oslo Accord and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority constituted a 'strategic mistake,' as he expressed, according to Sada News translation, emphasizing that the Palestinian Authority represents an antagonistic entity that must be dismantled, alongside collecting weapons and imposing Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. In a separate context, Smotrich addressed the economic situation, noting that the budget to be presented to the Knesset includes substantial measures to address the cost of living, including reforms in the milk market, imports, and the deposit system, asserting that these measures aim to reduce prices and enhance competition. He also announced progress in the legislative process related to separating the position of the government's legal advisor, explaining that the Constitution and Law Committee is working on presenting two draft laws for first reading, one of which aims to ensure what he described as 'genuine representation' of ministers' positions before the courts, paving the way for separating the position into legal advisor and attorney general.