'Israeli' Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Smotrich unveils plan for 1 million West Bank settlers
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Bezalel Smotrich proposed 103 settlements and 160 villages for one million settlers in the West Bank.
- He said the region is strategically vital for 'Israel's' security.
- Smotrich warned Hamas could take control without an 'Israeli' presence.
'Israeli' Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a strategic development plan targeting the West Bank (referred to as Judea and Samaria), stating an objective to increase the settler population in the area to one million.
Speaking to 'Israel's' Channel 14, Smotrich framed the expansion as a logistical and security necessity to protect major 'Israeli' population centers.
During the interview, Smotrich highlighted the geographic positioning of the West Bank, noting that the terrain plays a critical role in regional security.
"From Beersheba in the south to Fula [Afula] in the north... what is Judea and Shemon [Samaria]? It's the mountain that geographically and topographically controls all these spaces," Smotrich stated.
He asserted that a failure to maintain a presence in this mountainous corridor would create a security vacuum. "And if we're not there, God forbid, there's Hamas there at the end, which takes over in one second," Smotrich said, pointing to the speed at which the group previously took over the Gaza Strip.
JUST IN: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) June 28, 2026
“Hamas can take over the West Bank in an instant, we saw how quickly it took control of Gaza.
We want to bring one million "settlers" to the West Bank so that won't happen.” pic.twitter.com/gUz34SPxeq
Infrastructure expansion
To prevent this outcome, Smotrich detailed a specific infrastructure and resettlement framework. The plan involves extensive civil planning, regulatory adjustments, and road construction across the territory.
Smotrich explained that the ultimate goal of establishing these 103 settlements and 160 villages is to house one million settlers.
According to the minister, creating a permanent demographic presence is intended to act as a buffer to secure internal 'Israeli' cities, preventing potential future attacks or incursions in areas such as Ra'anana, Kfar Saba, Petah Tikva, Tel Aviv, Beersheba, and Afula.
