Two million Palestinians want to murder, rape Israelis - Smotrich

Smotrich: "Two million people wake up every morning with a desire to destroy the State of Israel and to slaughter, rape and murder Jews."

JANUARY 2, 2024 22:45

Updated: JANUARY 3, 2024 13:49

FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich attends a discussion on the state budget, at the Knesset Finance Committee, in July. The state budget for 2024 and the next few years must be fundamentally redrafted, say the writers. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90) — FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich attends a discussion on the state budget, at the Knesset Finance Committee, in July. The state budget for 2024 and the next few years must be fundamentally redrafted, say the writers.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90)

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused two million Palestinians living in Gaza of having a "desire to slaughter, rape, and murder Jews," while defending the displacement of Palestinians against US backlash on Wednesday morning.

The US State Department on Tuesday slammed recent statements from Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir that advocated for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza, calling the rhetoric "inflammatory and irresponsible."

The finance minister, one of the senior figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, had called on Sunday for Palestinian residents of Gaza to leave the besieged enclave, making way for Israelis who could "make the desert bloom."

“Let’s think out of the box,” urged Smotrich. “If in Gaza there will be 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs and not 2 million, the entire conversation on ‘the day after’ will look different,” he said.

Ben-Gvir: Israel not another star on US flag

Ben-Gvir defended his comments in a reaction to the American statement late on Tuesday on the social media platform X, writing that the government "will do what is best for the State of Israel."

NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER Itamar Ben-Gvir addresses his Otzma Yehudit faction in the Knesset earlier this month. (credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90)

"I deeply appreciate the United States of America, but with all due respect, we are not just another star on the American flag," Ben-Gvir wrote. "The US is a close ally, but above all else, we will do what is best for the State of Israel."

מעריך מאוד את ארצות הברית של אמריקה אבל עם כל הכבוד אנחנו לא עוד כוכב בדגל האמריקאי. ארצות הברית היא ידידתנו הטובה אך לפני הכל נעשה מה שטוב למדינת ישראל: הגירת מאות אלפים מעזה תאפשר לתושבי העוטף לחזור הביתה ולחיות בביטחון ותשמור על חיילי צה"ל.
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 2, 2024

The national security minister continued, arguing that the "emigration of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will allow the residents of the Gaza border communities to return home with security."

Ben-Gvir added that the move will also "protect IDF soldiers."

Smotrich also reacted to the statement on Wednesday morning, claiming that "70% of Israelis today support the humanitarian solution of encouraging emigration of Gazans.

"A small country such as ours cannot allow itself a reality in which a hotbed for hate and terror exists four minutes from our communities."

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.