Ministers and parliamentarians in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government gathered on Sunday in a far-right conference calling for the resettlement of the Gaza Strip and encouraging the displacement of Palestinians.
Sunday's event in Jerusalem, called "Victory of Israel Conference: Settlement Brings Security," was hosted by prominent extremists in Netanyahu's cabinet, such as national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Israeli Ministers Attend Far-Right Conference
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - JANUARY 28: Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attends a convention calling for Israel to resettle Gaza Strip and the northern part of the West Bank at the International Convention Center, on January 28, 2024 in Jerusalem, Israel. In the months since Oct. 7, various right-wing politicians and activists have called for creating new Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, which Israel previously occupied until 2005, at which time it dismantled its existing settlements and pulled out Israel Defense Forces. Talk of creating new Jewish settlements in Gaza has drawn opprobrium from the international community, including Israel's allies like the United States.
The conference advocated for the construction of new Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory. The politicians and activists called for a rally in occupied East Jerusalem came amid international pressure on Israel to confirm it would respect Palestinian statehood after its war on Gaza ends.
The gathering was attended by approximately 1,000 people, including 15 Knesset members and 11 cabinet members, some of whom were from the prime minister's Likud party.
The prominent role of government figures in the conference appears to violate the international court of justice ruling last week that Israel must "take all measures within its power" to prevent acts of genocide in its war in Gaza, including the prevention and punishment of genocidal rhetoric.
The war in Gaza is now heading into its fourth month, which began on the unprecedented October 7 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich both advocated for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza and the northern West Bank, known to some Israelis as Samaria, in their remarks on Sunday.
Prominent rabbis, leaders of settlements, and families of soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip participated in the conference. The participants received maps and comprehensive plans for the re-establishment of a Jewish presence in the areas inside what is internationally recognized as the borders of a potential Palestinian state.
Several participants were armed, and outside the convention hall, vendors sold T-shirts reading, "Gaza is part of the land of Israel." Among the speakers was Rabbi Uzi Sharbag, a former head of the banned far-right terrorist group Jewish Underground.
"We must encourage voluntary migration. Let them leave. Part of correcting the mistake of the sin of the preconception that brought us to October 7 is to return home to Gush Katif [southern Gaza] and to northern Samaria. We have to return home because that is the Torah, that is morality, that is historic justice, that is logic, and that is the right thing," Ben-Gvir said.
Furthermore, he reaffirmed his support for bringing back the death penalty for acts of terrorism.
Smotrich claimed in his speech that he took a beating in the eighth grade when they opposed the terrible folly of the Oslo accords. He said they yelled until they were hoarse, saying, "Don't give them guns."
However, they did not listen to them, referring to the failed peace process with the Palestinians in the 1990s.
He added that he had the privilege of fighting against the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Samaria. He noted that he paid for that with his own liberty.
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Conference Sparks Outrage
The event drew horrified reactions from Israeli politicians across the political spectrum and criticism from the US, Israel's most important ally.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that Netanyahu's coalition government had "reached a new low," which poses international damage, undermines potential negotiations, endangers soldiers, and reflects a grave lack of responsibility.
According to a senior US official, the radical right's conference advocating for the resumption of Jewish settlement in Gaza is "simply repulsive."
On Monday, France's foreign ministry denounced the conference. A spokeswoman for the ministry stated that they expect a clear denunciation of these positions from the Israeli authorities.
Netanyahu's office remained silent about the conference. However, when asked the day before, he said participants were "entitled to their opinions."
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