 Israeli Finance Minister Bitzalel Smotrich said that the decision to recognize the establishment of five settlements in the West Bank was in response to five countries recognizing a Palestinian state. In a video, Smotrich said that the countries, which include Spain and Norway, made a quote, mistake, and insisted a Palestinian state will never exist. At the same time, Smotrich agreed to release customs tax revenue money that Israel collects and transfers to the Palestinian Authority.