by Chaim Levinson at Haaretz
In an attempt to keep far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in his government, who is opposed to Netanyahu’s decision to increase aid to Gaza, the prime minister is planning to annex parts of the Gaza Strip, with the backing of the Trump administration
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to propose to the political-security cabinet a plan to annex areas in the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to keep Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in his government. According to the plan, Israel will declare that it is giving Hamas a few days to agree to a cease-fire, and if not, will begin annexing areas of the Strip.
The move will be presented to cabinet members following Netanyahu’s decision to increase humanitarian aid entering the Strip, which was accepted despite opposition from the Religious Zionism party. According to the plan Netanyahu is expected to present, areas in the buffer zone will be annexed first, followed by areas in the northern Strip adjacent to the Israeli cities of Sderot and Ashkelon.
The process will continue gradually until the entire Strip is annexed. According to details presented by Netanyahu in talks with ministers, the plan has received approval from the Trump administration…
Continue Reading