WATCH: 'All of Israel is ours': Smotrich calls to annex West Bank in Jerusalem Day speech

"The time has come for us to finally erase the lines that distinguish between Areas A, B, and C, the entire Land of Israel is ours," Smotrich said at the Religious Zionist Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva.

The Jerusalem Post
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WATCH: 'All of Israel is ours': Smotrich calls to annex West Bank in Jerusalem Day speech
Jerusalem Post/Israel News

"The time has come for us to finally erase the lines that distinguish between Areas A, B, and C, the entire Land of Israel is ours," Smotrich said at the Religious Zionist Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gives a Jerusalem Day address, May 14, 2026.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gives a Jerusalem Day address, May 14, 2026.
(photo credit: FINANCE MINISTRY)
ByANNA BARSKY
MAY 15, 2026 10:19

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called to annex the entirety of the West Bank during a speech at a Jerusalem Day rally on Thursday night.

Smotrich was addressing students and faculty at the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem - a flagship institution of the Religious Zionist movement, established by the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine, Abraham Isaac Kook, in the 1920s. Smotrich studied at the institution when he was younger.

"We have organized all the new young settlements, and approved more than a hundred new settlements in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich said.

"In the last three years, we have approved 60,000 housing units in Judea and Samaria. The people of Israel are returning home, and this time forever!" he continued.

"The time has come to finally erase the lines that separate Areas A, B, and C. I placed a detailed plan on the cabinet table this week, and I call on the prime minister to adopt it. All of the land of Israel is ours," he added.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gives a Jerusalem Day address, May 14, 2026. (credit: FINANCE MINISTRY)

Areas A, B, and C are categories for administrative divisions of the West Bank established under the Oslo Accords.

"For two and a half years, we have been in the midst of a hard and long war - a war that also costs us heavily, but also with great achievements on all fronts," he said, naming several senior Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas leaders killed since the October 7 massacre.

He also praised the passing of the controversial death penalty bill, saying that Nukhba force terrorists will "soon go to hell."

'Enemies of Israel weaker than ever,' Smotrich says

"We still have work to do on all fronts. Even during the Six Day War, which returned us to Jerusalem with a brilliant victory, did not end the wars. But even today, the State of Israel is stronger than ever and its enemies weaker than ever," he said.

"In the economy, we are seeing the fulfillment of prophecies. From a state of refugees with austerity and shortages, to an economic power. While fighting on seven fronts, the shekel strengthens, the stock exchange breaks records, and foreign investments flow into the country," he said.

"Tonight we celebrate the miracle, and tomorrow we continue the work, the building, and the planting," he concluded.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also spoke at the event, Israel's public broadcaster KAN News reported.

During his address, Ben-Gvir stated his desire to establish settlements in Lebanon.

"We also have plans to encourage settlements [across the region], from Gaza to Judea and Samaria," he added.

James Genn contributed to this report.

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