In a critical step, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that annexation of the occupied West Bank should return as a top priority, aligning with Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency. Netanyahu’s recorded remarks, which highlighted three discussions he had with Trump post-election, emphasized their shared stance on confronting the “Iranian threat” and hinted at deeper geopolitical plans.
The statements were bolstered by Israeli Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who declared that “the time has come to annex the West Bank.” The remarks underscore a renewed push by Israel’s right-wing government to advance an agenda of imposing sovereignty over the occupied territory of the West Bank—a long-standing objective for right-wing government of Israeli occupation.
Last month, Smotrich called for the full annexation of the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip asserting the need to establish illegal Israeli settlements in the heart of Palestinian territories and the expulsion of Palestinians seeking statehood.
The Washington Post reported on this push, framing it as part of the broader potential policy changes linked to Trump’s influence. Trump’s past support for Israeli policy, including during his initial presidency, signaled to many that U.S. backing for annexation and illegal settlements could be on the horizon. He stated during the election campaign referring to Israel as “a tiny little spot compared to these giant landmasses”.
The potential annexation raises significant geopolitical implications, drawing concern and critique from international observers and Palestinians alike. Such a move would redefine boundaries in a region already fraught with tension and would further complicate the Situation.
Israel’s right-wing government, emboldened by Trump’s supportive policies during his previous term, appears ready to illegally seize what they perceive as a rare moment to achieve a long-held ambition. Netanyahu and Smotrich’s comments serve as a harbinger of a more aggressive pursuit of policies that see this period as a unique window of opportunity to reshape the territorial map in Israel’s favor.
