From Netanyahu said to promise Smotrich immediate transfer of West Bank powers
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the Knesset in Jerusalem, February 15, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and promises to immediately transfer powers over the West Bank Civil Administration to him, the Walla news site reports.
“The Defense Ministry authority will be transferred to you immediately in accordance with coalition agreements,” Netanyahu is quoted as telling Smotrich, who is also a minister in the Defense Ministry.
The call comes after Smotrich denounced an operation to uproot trees illegally planted by a settler in the West Bank as “an injustice that screams out to Heaven” and demanded that Netanyahu stop dragging his feet on handing over the authority to him.
Smotrich also accused Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of undermining his authority.
