The Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" reported on Tuesday that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is accelerating the pace of settlement construction and land confiscation in the West Bank ahead of next year's Knesset elections, to impose facts on the ground that prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The newspaper added in its report: "As the election date approaches, Finance Minister Smotrich is speeding up settlement construction, land declarations, and infrastructure projects to entrench Israeli sovereignty and outline the features of the West Bank before voters head to the polls."
Officially, the current Knesset (parliament) term ends in October 2026, but many estimates in Israel suggest the possibility of early elections in June, and perhaps even earlier.
The authorities are seeking to establish a permanent presence there before the elections.
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Israeli media: Smotrich accelerates settlement in the West Bank before the elections