In Paris, Israel’s Smotrich says Palestinian people don't exist, calls them 'fictitious'

Addressing far-right French Jews at a conference, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dismissed the existence of the Palestinian people, claiming he and his forefathers were the “real Palestinians.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli far-right lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionism party, speaks during a rally with supporters, Sderot, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli far-right lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionism party, speaks during a rally with supporters, Sderot, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022. - Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images
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Rina Bassist
@RinaBassist

PARIS — Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made more inflammatory comments, denying on Sunday the existence of the Palestinian people, as he addressed a group of French Jews at a private memorial service in Paris.

“There is no such thing as Palestinians because there is no such thing as a Palestinian people,” he said. A video of the speech posted online shows the audience applauding for Smotrich after the remark.

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