Religious Zionist leader MK Bezalel Smotrich.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Washington, March 2 (RHC)-- The U.S. State Department has condemned the comments of Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who on Wednesday called on Israel to “erase” the Palestinian town of Huwara.  His comments came after Jewish settlers attacked the town on Sunday, burning cars and homes and killing a Palestinian man.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters:  “These comments were irresponsible.  They were repugnant.  They were disgusting.  And just as we condemn Palestinian incitement to violence, we condemn these provocative remarks that also amount to incitement to violence.  We call on Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials to publicly and clearly reject and disavow these comments.”