Israeli ministers call for annexation of West Bank after Palestine recognitions
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The news: Several Israeli ministers have demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government annex the occupied West Bank after numerous countries including Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal recognised Palestine on Sunday.
The context: The move by key US allies is expected to be followed by France and other countries at the UN General Assembly in New York later on Monday, which would likely mark the largest wave of recognitions in over 10 years.
The push to recognise Palestine comes amid international outcry over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which follows almost two years conflict in the region triggered by Hamas’ October 7 2023 attacks.
This week’s series of recognitions have prompted a vicious response in Israel, with Netanyahu insisting that there will be “no Palestinian state” and accused countries which have recognised Palestine has rewarding Hamas for its 2023 attack.
The UK on Monday warned Israel not to retaliate to the recognitions, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper telling the BBC that she had made clear to her Israeli counterpart that he and his government must not annex the West Bank. She said: "We have been clear that this decision that we are taking is about the best way to respect the security for Israel as well as the security for Palestinians.”
However, Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, said he would call for the “immediate” annexation of the West Bank in response to the move. “The recognition by Britain, Canada, and Australia of a ‘Palestinian’ state, as a reward for the Nukhba murderers, demands immediate countermeasures,” he wrote via X.
Israel’s ultranationalist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said: “The days when Britain and other countries determined our future are over, the mandate has ended, and the only response to the anti-Israeli move is sovereignty over the homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, and the removal of the foolish idea of a Palestinian state from the agenda forever.”
Nir Barkat, Israeli economy minister said via X that Israel’s response should be the “dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, the application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and recognition of local leadership, such as in the Hebron Emirates, that wishes to join the Abraham Accords.”
Barkat added that no “delusional declaration” by leaders of countries affected by Islamist immigration will result in a “de facto Palestinian state.”
Netanyahu is expected to outline Israel’s response to the wave of Palestine recognitions when he returns from the US after meeting with President Trump following the UN General Assembly. Trump is reportedly expected to meet with a select group of Arab leaders at the UN summit this week to discuss ending the war in Gaza.
