Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posts a video on Facebook responding to Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, who warned that the far-right Israeli cabinet member is trying to expand Israel’s borders from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Smotrich is filmed getting onto a bulldozer that is being used to build a new road to benefit settlers in the West Bank.
“We’re setting out to destroy the dreams of Mohammed Shtayyeh, who thinks that one day an Arab state will be established in the land of Israel,” Smotrich says, misnaming the PA prime minister. Shtayyeh hasn’t been in the position since March 2024.
“Forget about it. From the river to the sea, only a Jewish state,” Smotrich says.
Many Israeli officials and American Jewish organizations have characterized the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as antisemitic.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 26, 2026
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