Smotrich urges permanent Israeli sovereignty in Gaza and Lebanon at Jerusalem NatCon
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told the first NatCon in Jerusalem that Israel should permanently apply sovereignty over territory it holds in Gaza and Lebanon and encourage voluntary emigration of Gazans, three weeks before the Oct. 27 election.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism Party, called on Tuesday 6 October for Israel to permanently apply sovereignty over the territory it currently holds in Gaza and Lebanon. JNSR “I demand that the State of Israel permanently apply its sovereignty over the territories it currently holds, both in Gaza and in Lebanon,” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “also calling for Israel to permanently apply sovereignty over territory it holds in Gaza and Lebanon” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1He spoke at the first National Conservatism Conference (NatCon) held in Jerusalem, a three-day event running Oct. 6-8 at the International Convention Center, organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation, which is chaired by Yoram Hazony. JNSR “The three-day NatCon gathering, running Oct. 6-8 at Jerusalem’s International Convention Center”“Organized by the Edmund Burke Foundation, chaired by Israeli philosopher Yoram Hazony” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1The address came three weeks before Israel's Oct. 27 general election. JNSR “which came three weeks before Israel’s Oct. 27 general election” Read at JNS ↗
Right · 1Smotrich presented territorial loss as a penalty for enemies that start wars, saying: "A side that started a war and lost it will lose territory to the victorious side." He argued that earlier rounds of fighting ended along the lines where they began, letting enemies regroup, rebuild and attack again. JNSR ““A side that started a war and lost it will lose territory to the victorious side,””“Israel’s enemies have been able to regroup, rebuild and attack again after previous rounds of fighting” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1He also repeated his demand for Israeli sovereignty, meaning Israeli civil law, in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), citing Jewish historical ties, and described Palestinian nationhood as "a fiction". JNSR “Smotrich also reiterated his demand for the application of Israeli sovereignty—or Israeli civil law—in Judea and Samaria”“He described Palestinian nationhood as “a fiction.”” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 2Smotrich said the final stage of the war should include a "genuine, lawful and directed opportunity for voluntary migration" for Gazans who wish to leave, adding "This is not a call for coercion." He said Egypt and other Arab states prevent Gazans from leaving, and that Muslim Arab countries sharing their language, religion and culture are the natural destinations. JNSR ““This is not a call for coercion,” he added.” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC ““The natural destination is the Muslim Arab countries, which share their language, religion and culture,”” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1He said that encouraging voluntary migration of Muslims from conflict zones specifically to Muslim countries "is not racism". The Jerusalem PostRC “Encouraging the voluntary migration of Muslims who seek to leave conflict zones specifically to Muslim countries is not racism,” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1On relations with the United States, he called for a shift "from a relationship of dependence to a partnership between two independent nations", with greater Israeli military and economic independence, saying America is entitled to decisions that serve its interests even if Israel dislikes them. JNSR “from a relationship of dependence to a partnership between two independent nations.”““America is entitled to make decisions that correspond to its interests, even if Israel does not like them,”” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post noted that international humanitarian law prohibits forcible transfer or deportation of civilians from occupied territory, and that Arab governments have repeatedly rejected proposals to resettle large numbers of Gazans outside the Strip. The Jerusalem PostRC “International humanitarian law prohibits the forcible transfer or deportation of civilians from occupied territory.”“Arab governments have also repeatedly rejected proposals to resettle large numbers of Gazans outside the Strip.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1It said the position builds on one Smotrich has held since shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in July that voluntary migration from Gaza remained under consideration, though he has been less supportive of resettling Israeli settlements there. The Jerusalem PostRC “Smotrich's remarks build on a position he has advocated since shortly after the October 7 massacre.”“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in July that “voluntary migration” from Gaza remained under consideration” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post added that Israel controls more than 60% of Gaza nearly a year after the US-backed ceasefire took effect, with Hamas still armed and reconstruction largely stalled. The Jerusalem PostRC “Israel continues to control more than 60% of Gaza nearly a year after the US-backed ceasefire took effect, while Hamas remains armed and reconstruction has largely stalled.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both Israeli right-leaning outlets report the speech as Smotrich's postwar doctrine: JNS leads with the sovereignty demand and election timing, the Jerusalem Post with his "not racism" defence of voluntary migration.
- Emphasis
- JNS stresses the territorial and US-alliance themes and the conference's background; the Jerusalem Post stresses migration, legal context (humanitarian law, Arab rejection) and Netanyahu's stance.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries Palestinian, Arab or international reaction; JNS omits the legal context the Jerusalem Post supplies.
- Charged language
- “a fiction”“October 7 massacre”
- For example
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“The finance minister outlined his territorial agenda at Jerusalem’s first NatCon conference, three weeks before Israel’s election.” — JNS
“Encouraging the voluntary migration of Muslims who seek to leave conflict zones specifically to Muslim countries is not racism,” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Smotrich spoke at NatCon in Jerusalem on 6 October.
- He called for permanent Israeli sovereignty over territory held in Gaza and Lebanon.
- He called for voluntary emigration of Gazans, preferably to Muslim Arab countries, and said it is not coercion.
Bezalel Smotrich person
Argues that losing territory is the proper price for starting and losing a war, that Israel should permanently apply sovereignty in Gaza and Lebanon, and that voluntary emigration is lawful and not racist or coercive.
““A strong and independent Israel will be a better ally of the United States,”” — JNS
“stressing that he was calling for “a real, legal and dignified possibility” for those wishing to leave rather than forced removal.” — The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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JNSR ·
Smotrich urges permanent Israeli sovereignty in Gaza, Lebanon
Neutral Straight report of the speech, relaying Smotrich's arguments on sovereignty, migration and US ties largely in his own words.
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Smotrich: ‘Voluntary migration’ of Gazans to Muslim countries ‘is not racism’
Mixed Reports the speech but adds context that the proposal touches on legal prohibitions and Arab rejection, and ties it to Netanyahu and the ceasefire situation.
- 6 Oct 11:42 First JNSR Smotrich urges permanent Israeli sovereignty in Gaza, Lebanon
- 6 Oct 14:54 +3h 12m The Jerusalem PostRC Smotrich: ‘Voluntary migration’ of Gazans to Muslim countries ‘is not racism’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.