In response to the announcement by Ireland, Norway, and Spain regarding their intention to recognize a state of Palestine, Finance Minister Smotrich appealed to Prime Minister Netanyahu today (Wednesday) to take a number of retaliatory steps.
The first four steps involve strengthening settlement in Judea and Samaria, including approving tens of thousands of housing units, including in the diplomatically sensitive E1 area between Jerusalem and Maaleh Edumim.
Smotrich also proposed the establishment of three new "strategic" settlements for each state recognizing a Palestinian state.
Finally, to penalize the Palestinian Authority held responsible for the current slate of recognition, Smotrich proposed permanently ending the VIP permits given senior PA officials and sanctioning them and their families, as well as ending the plan to let Norway hold onto Palestinian tax funds or provide the PA money through Israeli clearance services. Banks once indemnified for providing such services will cease to be compensated by the end of next month.
