by Sharon Zhang, Truthout, August 5 https://truthout.org/articles/top-israeli-official-morally-justified-to-starve-2-million-to-death-in-gaza/
A top Israeli official suggested on Monday that he believes it is “morally justified” for Israel to wipe out Gaza’s population through famine and starvation, in chilling statements that pro-Palestine advocates say openly indicate genocidal intent. Speaking at a conference hosted by the far right Israel *Hayom* newspaper, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich complained about having to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying that international norms are stopping Israel from taking what he claims is the “moral” path of starving 2 million Palestinians to death. . . . Smotrich is also in charge of a plan to accelerate the Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank, and appeared to warn that the West Bank is next in Israel’s crosshairs. As Israel has undertaken its genocide in Gaza in the last 10 months, it has also vastly accelerated its colonial violence in the West Bank, killing Palestinians there at the fastest rate in decades. Earlier on Monday, in a post on social media, Smotrich also said that Israel is working to “remove the threat” of Palestinian statehood through its settlement expansion in the West Bank, saying that he opposes the idea of a Palestinian state outright. . . . *Bezalel Smotrich * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezalel_Smotrich Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli far-right politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister of Finance since 2022.[1] The leader of the National Religious Party–Religious Zionism,[2] he previously served as a Knesset member for Yamina.[3] Smotrich is a settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, living in the settlement of Kedumim, which is illegal under international law. His residence was also built illegally outside the settlement proper.[4] Smotrich's statements, often dubbed "racist" and "homophobic," have led to several controversies.[5] He is a supporter of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, opposes Palestinian statehood, and denies the existence of the Palestinian people.[5] As minister with powers in the occupied Palestinian territories, he has spoken of clandestine Israeli efforts to practically annex territories in the West Bank, first as a fait accompli, then by force of law.[6] . . . -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#31496): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/31496 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/107746128/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
