Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly attacked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Merz’s cautions about West Bank policy, drawing a swift defense from Israel’s ambassador in Germany, Ron Prosor.

Earlier, Merz warned against steps toward annexation in the West Bank, aligning with Germany’s broader caution on settlements.

Smotrich framed German criticism as unwanted moral lecturing and insisted Germans should not dictate where Jews live, stating there will be no apology for Israel’s actions.

Reports indicate that Israel approved construction for 34 additional settlements in March, with some new settlements expected in areas evacuated in the 2005 Gaza withdrawal.

Smotrich accused European leaders of hypocrisy and said Europe is losing its sense of right and wrong.

The remarks coincide with the Jewish memorial day of Yom HaShoah, amplifying the sensitivity of the debate in Germany.

Since 1967, the West Bank and East Jerusalem have been occupied with hundreds of thousands of settlers and millions of Palestinians; the UN views settlements as a major obstacle to a two-state solution, which the Israeli government rejects.

Israel maintains opposition to a two-state solution, while the Palestinian state remains a point of international debate.

Internationally, the UN opposes unilateral settlement expansion that could prevent a contiguous Palestinian state within a two-state framework.

Smotrich framed Israel’s return to its biblical homeland as a defense against attempts to destroy Jews, saying Israel does not apologize and labeling Hamas members as Nazis.

Media reports and regional tensions note the 34 settlements approved or legalized by right-wing religious leadership in the West Bank, amid concerns over Iran and wider regional instability.

The broader context includes worsening West Bank tensions, settler violence, Palestinian displacement, and the Security Cabinet’s approval of settlements, bringing the total since late 2022 to over 100.