The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is currently considering formally annexing a significant portion of the occupied West Bank. Such a move, widely considered a breach of international law, risks inciting outrage throughout the Arab world. Annexation could also undermine President Trump’s efforts to achieve peace in the region. However, it might provide Netanyahu with a political advantage among Israeli voters.
A high-ranking UAE official warned Israel that annexing the West Bank would be a “red line” that would undermine regional integration and the two-state solution. This warning was issued in the context of a major ministerial consultation in Israel regarding potential annexation, and in response to Western countries’ plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The Emirati official’s message echoed a similar warning prior to the Abraham Accords, and emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining ties. The UAE hopes to prevent the Abraham Accords from being derailed and reiterated the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel if it commits to a pathway to a future Palestinian state.
Israel’s recent warnings to Europe regarding the potential recognition of Palestine are unsettling, to say the least. The implicit threat of annexing even more of the West Bank in response to such recognition feels less like a genuine contingency plan and more like a thinly veiled declaration of intent. It suggests that annexation is already a foregone conclusion, regardless of Europe’s actions.
The claim that European recognition would have “absolutely zero effect” on Israel’s annexation plans rings hollow. The very act of issuing this warning implies a causal link, even if it’s a manipulative one. It’s a classic “Look what you made me do!”… Continue reading
With Trump’s return to power, the ambition among Israeli settlers for complete control of the West Bank has been reignited. This renewed drive stems from a belief that a Trump administration would be more sympathetic to their cause, potentially leading to policies that facilitate expansion of settlements and, ultimately, annexation of the territory.
The possibility of a less critical US stance on Israeli actions in the West Bank is fueling this resurgence of settler ambitions. This perceived shift in American foreign policy, it’s believed, could embolden settlers and allow them to pursue their long-held goal with less international pressure. The hope is for a more lenient approach, possibly including a suspension of sanctions or a decreased emphasis on a two-state solution.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood