In a leaked audio of a speech given by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, he outlined his strategy to prevent the occupied West Bank from becoming an independent Palestinian state. Smotrich, a prominent right-wing member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, emphasized the importance of developing Jewish settlements in order to safeguard the state of Israel.

The leaked transcript and audio of Smotrich's speech were obtained by Israeli NGO Peace Now, who had a representative present during the gathering. Smotrich's office confirmed the authenticity of the speech, stating that it aimed to address the issue of Jewish settlement and the necessity of preventing a potential "terrorist state" within Israel.

While Israel's Supreme Court defines its control over the West Bank as a temporary military occupation, Smotrich, who himself resides in a settlement, openly opposes the formation of an independent Palestinian state. He has long advocated for the expansion of Jewish settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law and widely condemned by the international community.

During the speech, Smotrich highlighted the establishment of a separate civilian system for the occupied West Bank, allowing for extensive planning powers under the jurisdiction of the Minister and Administration. He envisioned the development of mass transit and road systems over the coming years as a means to encourage more settlements in the West Bank.

"We created a separate civilian system, there is an office within the Ministry of Defense. There is a minister there. There is an administration there, it's like an office, there is a CEO for the administration, he is accepted as the CEO of a government office, there is a whole system within the administration," Smotrich explained.

Smotrich further claimed that he was successful in persuading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the importance of establishing a civilian administration in the West Bank. The official position of the Israeli government remains that the status of the West Bank is subject to future negotiations, even as more countries express support for an independent Palestinian state.

Over the years, Israel has expanded settlements in the occupied West Bank despite having signed the Oslo Accords, a series of peace agreements with the Palestinians in the 1990s that aimed to establish an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza as part of a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As CNN reaches out to the Prime Minister's Office for a response, Smotrich's statements have generated controversy, raising concerns about the viability of a two-state solution and the potential impact on peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The leaked audio has shed light on Smotrich's determination to change the DNA of the system for years to come through the development of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.