Israeli Minister Pushes for West Bank Settlement Annexation Amid Trump Support

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

1. Annexation Plans:

   • Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans to annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank by 2025.
   • He instructed his department to begin comprehensive groundwork to prepare the necessary infrastructure for this annexation[1][2][5].

2. Trump’s Role:

   • Smotrich believes Donald Trump’s election victory offers an important opportunity for Israel to apply sovereignty over the West Bank.
   • He hopes that the new administration will support Israel’s annexation plans[1][2][5].

3. International Reactions:

   • Palestinian Condemnation: Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned Smotrich’s comments, calling the plan an enforcement of Israel’s “racist expansion strategy”[1].
   • Jordan’s Denouncement: Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denounced Smotrich’s statement, labeling it as racist and provocative, and an infringement on the international community’s resolutions[1].

4. Past Attempts and Outcomes:

   • During Trump’s first term, Israel planned to annex Area C of the West Bank, but these plans never materialized due to international pressure and a lack of support from Washington[1][2].
5. Future Uncertainty:
   • Ex-Trump aides have warned Israeli ministers not to assume they will back the annexation in the second term, suggesting that international support is uncertain[3].