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"We need to annex at least up to the lines we’re currently holding. And if Hezbollah attacks again, then all the way to Beirut. And if they attack, then even beyond that," he said. “We need to annex at least up to the lines we’re currently holding. And if Hezbollah attacks again, then all the way to Beirut." Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should annex land it occupies in Gaza and Lebanon to “make them truly feel the cost of their mistake." https://t.co/a7kIEPM40W — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) (https://x.com/MiddleEastEye/status/2112564401551110217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) October 20, 2026         (https://www.middleeasteye.net/) (Home) (Home)   Top Menu En (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live) Live  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/news) News  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending) Trending  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion) Opinion  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/video) Video  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/explainers) Explainers    (https://www.youtube.com/MiddleEastEye)  Youtube   (https://x.com/MiddleEastEye)  X   (https://www.instagram.com/middleeasteye)  Instagram   (https://www.facebook.com/MiddleEastEye)  Facebook   (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye)  TikTok      (smotrich-says-israel-should-annex-territory-it-occupies-gaza-and-lebanon.html#)  Top  Countries (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/algeria) Algeria    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/bahrain) Bahrain    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/china) China    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/egypt) Egypt    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/france) France    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/germany) Germany    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/india) India    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/iran) Iran    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/iraq) Iraq    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel) Israel    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/jordan) Jordan    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/kuwait) Kuwait    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/lebanon) Lebanon    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/libya) Libya    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/mauritania) Mauritania    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/morocco) Morocco    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/oman) Oman    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/pakistan) Pakistan    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine) Palestine    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/qatar) Qatar    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/russia) Russia    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/saudi-arabia) Saudi Arabia    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/sudan) Sudan    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/syria) Syria    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/tunisia) Tunisia    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/turkey) Turkey    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk) UK    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uae) United Arab Emirates    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us) US    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/yemen) Yemen          About (https://www.middleeasteye.net/about-middle-east-eye) About us  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/privacy-policy) Privacy  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/terms-and-conditions) Terms and conditions  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/careers) (Careers) Careers  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/form/contact) (Contact Us) Contact us     Copyright © 2014 - 2026 . 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