Far-right finance minister calls for Palestinian-free buffer zones near West Bank settlements

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for a ban against Palestinians harvesting olives close to Israeli West Bank settlements, and the creation of “sterile” no-go areas prohibiting the presence of Palestinians in the vicinity of the settlements and major roads that lead to them.

In a letter to the prime minister that he shares with the media, Smotrich alleges Israel is failing to maintain acceptable levels of security in the West Bank.

He calls to “create sterile security areas around [Jewish] communities and roads and to prevent Arabs from entering them, including for the purpose of olive harvesting.”

Contacted by The Times of Israel, Smotrich’s spokesman clarifies the minister was referring to Palestinians and not all Arabs — though he used the latter term several times in his letter. Smotrich has faced accusations of racism in the past.

The far-right minister argues such measures are necessary to prevent terror attacks against settlers as well as “to provide a sense of security due to the high sensitivity and the drafting of many men to reserve duty, leaving women and children alone.”

Actions that hamper Palestinian farmers from harvesting their olives would likely face intense international condemnation and could inflame tensions in the West Bank.

Smotrich argues the current policy is “absurd” and “insane” and says “I will not accept it anymore.”

“Someone has lost their way,” he claims in his criticism of the military and defense establishment. “The writing is on the wall.”