Israeli Finance Minister Orders West Bank Annexation Preparations, Citing Trump’s Return
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has instructed officials to prepare for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, citing the upcoming return of former US President Donald Trump to power in 2025, Al Jazeera reports.
In a statement on Monday, Smotrich expressed optimism that Trump’s administration would recognize Israel’s claim to “sovereignty” over the West Bank. Smotrich, who oversees the West Bank’s administration within the Israeli Defence Ministry, declared that 2025 would be the “year of sovereignty” in the occupied territory.
At a meeting of his far-right faction in the Knesset, Smotrich welcomed Trump’s victory in the US presidential election and announced that he had directed the Settlement Directorate and Civil Administration to begin groundwork for annexation. He claimed broad agreement for the move within the ruling coalition and opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, condemned Smotrich’s remarks, labeling them a confirmation of Israel’s intention to annex the West Bank in violation of international law.
While acknowledging the settler movement’s confidence in Trump’s potential support for annexation, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the government has not made any official decisions on the matter.
The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, with Israeli settlements expanding despite international condemnation and their illegality under Israeli law. Smotrich has consistently advocated for extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territories and obstructing the establishment of a Palestinian state. He has also threatened to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition if a ceasefire with Hezbollah is negotiated.
During his first term as US president, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of US policy and international consensus. He also supported settlement expansion and proposed a plan for a “Palestinian entity” lacking full sovereignty.
Earlier this year, Smotrich’s Settlements Administration gained increased control over the West Bank, including authority over building regulations and management of farmland, parks, and forests.
