​​​​​​​Smotrich's call to 'bury Palestinian state' inciteful, says World Jewish Congress head

The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, has said that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's comments are inciteful and that they damage the security of the Jewish people.

“Smotrich and his partner National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have repeatedly made statements that massively damage Israel as well as the security of the Jewish people. It has to stop," Lauder said. 

“These men do not represent the sentiments of the vast majority of Jews worldwide, who rightfully view these two as extremists not fit to serve in public office," he added.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, declared on Thursday that he will proceed with the E1 settlement project that “buries the idea of a Palestinian state” by building more than 3,000 housing units for Israeli settlers separating the south of the West Bank from the middle and the north.