preparatory

On Monday, Smotrich said that 2025 would be "the year of sovereignty" in the West Bank, adding that he had instructed Israeli authorities to begin preparatory work for annexation of the occupied territory.

Mr Justice Julian Goose told the court the defendant had "chosen" not to say anything and ordered a further preparatory hearing ahead of the trial to take place in December.

But we are soon likely to find out to what extent any of this preparatory work counts for anything.

The second offence he admitted was brought under Section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 and is that he had engaged in conduct preparatory to endangering life for the benefit of a foreign power - in this case Russia.

Mr Reeves also faces two charges of accepting money from a foreign intelligence service and engaging in conduct preparatory to endangering life for the benefit of a foreign power.