As CNN has reported, the Israeli government has been looking to 'strengthen' Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after several countries unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state.
'The goal is to change the DNA of the system for many, many years,' he said, according to leaked audio from a speech he made earlier this month.The European Union as well as several Middle Eastern countries have denounced the plans. In a statement posted on X on Saturday, EU spokesperson Peter Stano said the organization 'condemns in the strongest terms' the announcement by Smotrich.'This is another deliberate attempt at undermining peace efforts,' he added.