Liberal Forum

The administration of US President Joe Biden expressed its deep concern that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich intends to sever the connection between Palestinian banks and the Israeli financial system next month. This could lead to an economic collapse in the West Bank, according to reports by Israel’s Walla website on Tuesday, citing senior US officials.

The US administration fears that: “The crash of the Palestinian banking system could bring down the Palestinian Authority, creating a power vacuum that could throw the West Bank into chaos and exacerbate the conflict in the region.” Meanwhile, Smotrich continues his plan to weaken the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of his ideology to annex the West Bank.

Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defence Ministry and has been given many civilian powers related to the occupied West Bank, has previously stated that the PA poses a threat to Israel and has said that Hamas is an “asset” because it divides the Palestinian leadership, reducing the chances of establishing a Palestinian state.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240 ... -collapse/