Why Israel's far right is embracing Trump’s Gaza displacement plan
Israel's far right is elated by President Donald Trump's calls to drive Gazans away from the Strip and resettle them in other Arab states.
TEL AVIV — Israeli far-right leaders are enthusiastically welcoming President Donald Trump’s plan for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate Gazans to other Arab countries, hoping it will sideline any possibility for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Wednesday that "the plan presented yesterday by President Trump is the real response to Oct. 7. Those who perpetrated the worst massacre on our land, will find themselves losing their own land, for good." Interviewed by Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Smotrich added, "Now we will work to completely eliminate the dangerous idea of a Palestinian state."
Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, who quit the government and his position as national security minister after it approved a ceasefire deal in Gaza last month, said Wednesday he is now considering returning to the cabinet. "If he will implement the [Trump] plan, I’ll join him fully. In fact, the moment the government decides to implement it, I’ll come back."
The comments came after the US president said at a press conference alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, "I do see a long-term [US] ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East.” Nowhere in his press conference did Trump say he consulted with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank or with residents of the Gaza Strip.
