Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has set an ambitious goal for 2025, aiming to demolish more Palestinian structures than those built in the West Bank.

Experts caution that the annexation of the West Bank could jeopardize Israel's normalization efforts with Arab nations and the potential establishment of a Palestinian state.

An IDF spokesperson defended military actions in the region, asserting they are necessary to prevent terror threats near Jewish communities, despite the significant civilian casualties and destruction of homes.

Since October 7, 2023, at least 876 individuals have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, according to reports from UNRWA.

Experts report that ongoing military operations in the northern West Bank have displaced over 40,000 Palestinians, a figure that surpasses displacement levels from the 1967 Six-Day War.

Smotrich's comments highlight his long-term objective of annexing the West Bank and rejecting the two-state solution, as detailed in his 2017 plan titled 'One Hope.'

To further this agenda, the Israeli government plans to construct nearly 1,000 additional housing units in the Efrat settlement, which will expand its size by 40%.

This expansion is expected to hinder development in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, where approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers already reside in about 100 settlements deemed illegal under international law.

Smotrich's approach aims to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel, and he has denied that his proposals resemble apartheid, despite facing widespread criticism.

The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to Smotrich's remarks or the new settlement plans in the West Bank.

Saudi Arabia has reiterated that any normalization with Israel is contingent upon the creation of a Palestinian state, a stance emphasized following former President Trump's controversial statements about relocating Palestinians from Gaza.