Smotrich, also overseeing the West Bank's administration in the Defense Ministry, expects the new U.S. administration to support Israel's push for sovereignty in the region, which he calls "Judea and Samaria."
Celebrating Trump's win, Smotrich instructed the Defense Ministry’s Settlement Directorate to lay groundwork for annexation. Confident in Trump's prior support, Smotrich declared 2025 as the "year of sovereignty" and emphasized broad coalition support against a Palestinian state.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned Smotrich's plan as a move to annex the West Bank in violation of international law. The West Bank, under Israeli occupation since 1967, has seen growth in Israeli settlements, viewed as illegal internationally.
Smotrich, an advocate for Israeli sovereignty over occupied areas, opposes Palestinian statehood and has threatened to disrupt Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition if a truce is reached with Hezbollah. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Jordan, noted that Smotrich's statements align with his longstanding push for annexation.
Previously, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, reversing longstanding U.S. policy, and supported settlement growth. Recently, Israel's Civil Administration gave Smotrich's Settlements Administration control over aspects of the West Bank, advancing his agenda for annexation.
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