Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the Israeli government is working “to remove the threat” of Palestinian statehood as Western countries, including its ally the US, call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Al Jazeera reports.

He said on X that any path to “this agenda” would be blocked through “strengthening settlements in construction, development, establishment and regulation of settlements and infrastructure”.

“Stopping the Arab takeover of the open areas, fighting the terrorist financing of the Palestinian Authority and its leaders and complete Israeli control of the territory [the occupied West Bank]. This is the only way,” Smotrich added.