Fifteen Israeli Cabinet Ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party have pushed him to immediately annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to Reuters.
The lawmakers have signed a petition requesting the administration “to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (West Bank) before the end of the Knesset summer session,” which ends on July 27.
They also implied that the current moment is appropriate for the annexation thanks to strong US-Israeli relations and the recent military gains.
Crucially, the petition noted that Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, stands out as a living proof of the dangers of establishing a Palestinian state. Furthermore, it described the two-state idea as a threat to Israel’s national security. Consequently, it claimed that annexation would prevent future attacks on Israel.
In May, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel planned to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the occupied West Bank, according to Al-Arabiya.
Katz’s remarks followed Israel’s announcement of the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank.
“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land,” Katz said.
Katz also noted that the new settlements would be a clear message to French President Emmanuel Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but Israel will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground.
Related Topics:
Western Allies Impose Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Over West Bank Violence
Arab Ministers Condemn Israel’s Ban on West Bank Visit
Israel Plans to Build Jewish Israeli State in West Bank
