The Israeli government is seriously considering extending its sovereignty over the West Bank, a move positioned as a direct response to the growing intention of European countries to recognize a Palestinian state. The high-stakes issue topped the agenda of a recent war cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting a potential major shift in regional policy.
In a clear sign of the government’s priorities, the meeting focused intently on annexation scenarios, while the general overseeing efforts to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas was not invited. This follows a resolution passed in July by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, which formally backed the annexation of the territory currently under the partial control of the Palestinian Authority.
Several options are reportedly on the table, according to sources cited by Axios. These range from annexing ‘Area C’—a territory comprising 61% of the West Bank already under de facto Israeli security control—to a more limited annexation of Jewish settlements and their access routes, which make up 10% of the land. A third scenario involves annexing the settlements, access roads, and the strategic Jordan Valley, amounting to 30% of the West Bank.
The push for annexation is strongly backed by the far-right flank of Netanyahu’s government, with ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating for a total takeover. There is also a belief within some government circles that a potential future Donald Trump administration in the United States would unequivocally support any annexation decision Israel makes.
However, the diplomatic fallout could be severe. Arab diplomats have warned that annexation would likely cause several Middle Eastern nations to suspend or downgrade their relations with Israel. Furthermore, it could completely halt the fragile and historic process of normalizing ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a major blow to regional stability efforts.
Despite the risks, Israeli officials frame annexation as a necessary reaction. “What the Europeans are planning to do is causing more and more people in Israel to say that maybe we should start talking about annexing parts of Judea and Samaria,” said U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, using the biblical name for the West Bank. This comes as the Palestinian Authority is reportedly considering a unilateral declaration of statehood during the upcoming UN General Assembly, according to the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The security situation on the ground further complicates any political move. The West Bank faces significant security challenges, with what an Israeli army spokesperson described as a persistent level of terrorist activity. IDF spokesperson Major (Res.) Anna Ukolova noted that Israeli forces are conducting constant raids to thwart attacks and have observed a trend of militants from different factions forming new ‘battalions’. Sympathy for Hamas has also reportedly surged in the West Bank since the October 7th attack, adding another layer of volatility to an already tense environment.