Israeli minister condemned for claiming ‘no such thing’ as a Palestinian people

Bezalel Smotrich’s comments come as far-right coalition pushes ahead with controversial judiciary overhaul

An Israeli minister has claimed there is “no such thing” as a Palestinian people as Israel’s new coalition government, its most hardline ever, ploughed ahead with a part of its plan to overhaul the judiciary.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition said it was pushing a key part of the overhaul – which would give the coalition control over who becomes a justice or a judge – before the parliament takes a month’s holiday break next week.