Contemplates West Bank annexation amid considerations for recognizing Palestine by Israel
In a significant political development, several US allies are set to recognize Palestine as a state during the UN General Assembly in September. This proposed recognition comes amidst mounting international criticism over Israel's actions in the Gaza war, with the discussion of annexation expected to focus on the conflict.
Israel is facing criticism over its war in Gaza, and the idea of annexation will be discussed further on Sunday. The proposed annexation would extend Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank, a region captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.
The exact extent of the proposed annexation is unclear, with possibilities including Israeli settlements, specific areas such as the Jordan Valley, or broader regions. Members of Netanyahu's ruling coalition have been calling for years for Israel to formally annex parts of the West Bank, citing biblical and historical ties.
However, the international community, including the UN, views these territories as occupied. Israel argues that the territories are not occupied in legal terms because they are on disputed lands. Yet, the UN and most of the international community regard them as occupied territory.
This is not the first time Israel has considered annexation. A past pledge by Netanyahu to annex Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley was scrapped in 2020. Israel's annexations of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights decades ago have not won international recognition.
The UN's highest court, acting under a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly, ruled in 2024 that the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, constitute an illegal occupation. The court called for Israel's immediate withdrawal and reparations, which was further supported by UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24 demanding Israel to cease settlement activity and evacuate settlers from these areas.
The US will not allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York for the UN gathering of world leaders. The office of President Abbas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter. A spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also did not respond to a request for comment on whether Saar had discussed the move with his US counterpart Marco Rubio during his visit to Washington last week.
The annexation discussion comes amid ongoing tensions and conflicts in the region, particularly in Gaza. The annexation is a possible response to France and other countries recognizing a Palestinian state. The exact timing and location of any such measure are unclear at this time.
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