Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich caused another storm Sunday night at an event held in Paris in memory of Jacques Kupfer, who was the head of the freedom movement in France and active in the Zionist Organization. During his speech, the controversial Finance Minister said that "there is no such thing as a Palestinian. The Palestinian people are an invention that is less than 100 years old. I am Palestinian, My grandfather, who was a 13th generation Jerusalemite, is the real Palestinian. My grandmother, who was born more than 100 years ago to a family of pioneers, is Palestinian."
It’s worth noting that the Israeli minister was banned by the French government and the leadership of the Jewish community and had to change the hall in which he spoke after the owners of the previous hall revoked their consent because of his participation.
In his speech in Paris, Israeli Smotrich said, The Palestinian people are an invention of the last century. There is no such thing as Palestine because there is no such thing as Palestinian people
— Anatolian Tiger (@HarimauAnatolia) March 20, 2023
Thousands of Palestinians older than his state are still alive#SahabatPalestina_ID pic.twitter.com/4xfExEhruc
The fervently nationalistic minister also said that "there are five characteristics that define a nation; history, culture, language, currency, and historical leadership. Who was the first Palestinian king? What language do the Palestinians have? Has there ever been a Palestinian currency? Is there a Palestinian history or culture? No. There are Arabs. who are in the Middle East and arrived in the Land of Israel at the same time as the Jewish immigration and the early days of Zionism.”
Smotrich continued, “after 2,000 years of exile, the people of Israel are returning home, and there are Arabs around who do not like it. So what do we do? They invent a fictitious people and claim fictitious rights in the Land of Israel just to fight the Zionist movement."
"This is the historical truth. This is the biblical truth. The Arabs in the Land of Israel need to hear this truth. This truth should be heard here in the Elysee Palace. This truth should also be heard by the Jewish people in the State of Israel who are a little confused. This truth needs to be heard in the White House in Washington. The whole world needs to hear this truth because it is the truth and the truth will prevail." He added that there is no better country for the Arabs than Israel.
Then Smotrich added: ‘This is the truth that the @WhiteHouse needs to hear. That there are no Palestinians people… ‘
— Tal Schneider טל שניידר تال شنايدر (@talschneider) March 19, 2023
"Stop spitting into the well you are drinking from," Smotrich quipped. “The State of Israel is a miracle, Israel's economy is a miracle. Contrary to the lies of the leaders of the delegitimization campaign that are spreading against us in the world, we are spreading good to all the residents of the country, Jews and non-Jews. Look around you, in all 22 Arab countries, is there one other country where Arabs have such a good life? A modern country with a developing economy, with freedom of religion, freedom of speech, property, and liberty. There is no such country in the world. Stop fighting the State of Israel and the people of Israel. You will lose and we will win because the Holy One, blessed be He, is with us."
The organizer of the event, Kupfer's daughter, Neely Naori, blamed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and "Israeli left-wing anarchists" who threatened the owners of the previous hall to refuse to hold it with Smotrich's participation. Smotrich read a chapter of Psalms in prayer for the recovery of the victim of yesterday's attack in Huwara David Stern.
