Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced that the occupied Palestinian West Bank will be annexed to the territory of Israel within the next year. He said that the West Bank will belong to Israel in 2025, rejecting the fact that the West Bank is part of Palestinian territory according to international law. Through this, the 'threat' of forming a Palestinian state will also end.
According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Smotrich made this announcement at a meeting of his Religious Zionism Party on Monday.
During the meeting, Smotrich congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election last week.
He also said that Trump's victory is a great opportunity for Israel. During his first term (2017–21), Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and allowed settlements in Judea and Samaria (the biblical name for the West Bank). Israel came close to asserting sovereignty over the West Bank before the Biden administration arrived. Now is the time to get that done.
Smotrich said Israel and its coalition of allies, as well as their opponents, believe the establishment of a Palestinian state is a threat to Israel's existence.
The minister, who opposes the expansion of Israeli settlements and the promotion of sovereignty in the occupied territories and an independent Palestinian state, said the only way to eliminate the threat of the establishment of a Palestinian state is for Israel to occupy the West Bank. For this purpose, he has ordered the Settlement Division and Civil Administration under the Ministry of Defense to take necessary measures.
Smotrich added, however, that some countries, especially Arab countries, may object. For this we are working to gain support and recognition for Israel.
Later Smotrich wrote in X, '2025—the year of establishing sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.'
Last June, Smotrich said there were “secret plans” to take over the West Bank from Palestine.
Earlier in 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the West Bank is Palestinian territory. Israeli settlements in the area were declared illegal and ordered to be removed.
According to Israeli estimates, there are more than 720,000 Jewish 'illegal' residents in East Jerusalem, including the West Bank.
