Title: Israeli Minister Threatens to Annex West Bank to Israel

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced today, Monday, that he intends to make the West Bank an integral part of Israel. During a meeting of his far-right party, "Religious Zionism," Smotrich stated, "I intend to make the West Bank an integral part of Israel," according to the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz." He added, "We will establish sovereignty in the West Bank, first on the ground and then through legislation. I plan to legitimize the emerging settlements." Smotrich, a prominent supporter of settlement in the West Bank and its annexation to Israel, further remarked, "My life's mission is to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state." On Sunday, Smotrich confirmed the accuracy of an audio recording published by the American newspaper "The New York Times" on Friday regarding his efforts to annex the West Bank to Israel.