Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated on 27/9 that he wants Israel to "annex at least up to the Gold Line in Gaza and the Litani River in Lebanon." He questioned, "If the war ends along the line where it began, what will prevent the enemy from waging war again?"

The Gold Line defines the division between areas controlled by Israel and the Hamas armed group in the Gaza Strip. Established by a ceasefire agreement last year, it leaves Tel Aviv holding over 60% of the strip's territory.

Location of the Gold Line. Graphics: BBC

The Litani River is situated in southern Lebanon, approximately 30 km from the Israeli border. The Israeli army previously conducted a ground operation to push the Hezbollah armed group beyond the Litani River's north bank and now maintains a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Smotrich argued that Israel's annexation of parts of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon would compel adversaries to "pay the price" for the coordinated attack by the Hamas armed group in late 2023, as well as subsequent conflicts.

Lebanon opposes any Israeli control over its territory. Furthermore, Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip forms part of US President Donald Trump's post-war plan for the region.

Location of the Litani River. Graphics: RANE

Beyond these annexation calls, the Israeli finance minister also advocates for the army to launch an offensive in the West Bank, an area currently under Palestinian control.

"I think we must launch a war in Judea and Samaria to dissolve the Palestinian Authority," Smotrich declared, using Israel's biblical term for the West Bank.

This statement came in response to inquiries about how Israel should address the escalating security challenges in the West Bank, which has seen numerous attacks targeting Israeli citizens.

Minister Smotrich speaks in the West Bank in June. Photo: Flash90

Minister Smotrich leads a far-right party that supports the full annexation of the West Bank, a territory Israel has occupied since 1967. Violence in the area has intensified since the conflict erupted in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas armed group's attack on Israel in late 2023.

The West Bank is home to over 500,000 Israelis residing in settlements, alongside three million Palestinians.

Pham Giang (According to AFP, Times of Israel)