Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet pushes full annexation of West Bank, citing "existential threat" from Palestinians
By isabelle // 2025-07-05
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  • Israeli ministers from Netanyahu’s Likud party demand immediate annexation of the West Bank, calling Palestinian statehood an "existential threat" after Hamas' October 7 attack.
  • Far-right leaders like Finance Minister Smotrich claim infrastructure is ready to enforce sovereignty, framing annexation as a biblical right rather than a security measure.
  • The push coincides with Netanyahu’s upcoming meeting with Trump, leveraging U.S. support to flout international law, as seen with past moves like relocating the embassy to Jerusalem.
  • Over 700,000 illegal settlers already occupy the West Bank, while Palestinians face military repression, home demolitions, and enclosures likened to "big prisons."
  • Human rights groups label Israel’s regime "apartheid," but Western governments continue arming Israel despite condemning its violations, enabling systemic erasure of Palestinian rights.
More than a dozen Israeli cabinet ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party have demanded the immediate annexation of the occupied West Bank before parliament’s summer recess ends. The ministers, backed by far-right allies like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, argue that establishing a Palestinian state would pose an “existential threat” to Israel, pointing to Hamas’ October 7 attack as justification. Their ultimatum comes just days before Netanyahu meets with U.S. President Donald Trump. The push for annexation isn’t just political posturing; it’s a direct threat to the survival of Palestinian communities. Smotrich, who oversees settlement policy, declared the infrastructure is ready to enforce Israeli sovereignty “immediately” upon Netanyahu’s order. Of course, this isn’t actually about security; it’s about erasure. These ministers won’t rest until Palestinians are wiped off the map, their homes bulldozed, and their rights extinguished under a regime of apartheid.

Annexation as "existential" necessity?

The ministers’ letter, signed by 15 Likud officials and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, claims the October 7 attacks proved that Palestinian statehood would endanger Israel. “The doctrine of settlement blocs and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the remaining territory is an existential danger to Israel. It’s time for sovereignty,” they wrote. But their rhetoric ignores a glaring truth: Israel’s occupation and systemic oppression of Palestinians—not Palestinian resistance—are the root of the conflict. The timing is no accident. With Trump’s return to the White House, far-right factions see an opportunity to cement permanent control over the West Bank. During his first term, Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, flouting international law. Now, Netanyahu’s allies are banking on his support to formalize apartheid.

Settlements over survival

The West Bank, seized by Israel in 1967, is already fractured by illegal settlements, military checkpoints, and segregation walls. More than 700,000 Israeli settlers live there in violation of international law, while Palestinians face home demolitions, arbitrary arrests, and violent raids. A recent Reuters investigation revealed how towns like Sinjil have been turned into “big prisons,” encircled by fences and cut off from livelihoods. “Half of our life is on the roads,” said Sana Alwan, a resident trapped by endless checkpoints. Smotrich and his allies aren’t hiding their agenda. They’ve openly called for displacing Palestinians from Gaza and annexing the West Bank, framing it as a biblical right. Their vision isn’t coexistence but conquest. The international community has long turned a blind eye to Israel’s violations, but the mask is slipping. In 2021, even Israel’s leading human rights group, B’Tselem, labeled its regime “apartheid.” Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reached the same conclusion. Yet Western governments, including the U.S. and EU, continue arming Israel while pretending to care about a two-state solution. Netanyahu’s government thrives on this hypocrisy. It sells “battle-tested” weapons—used to brutalize Palestinians—to authoritarian regimes worldwide. Its cyber-surveillance tools, like NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, help dictators crush dissent. The ministers’ annexation push isn’t about security—it’s about cementing apartheid. Palestinians, from Gaza to the West Bank, are resisting not just occupation but annihilation. Sources for this article include: RT.com Reuters.com MiddleEastMonitor.com Reuters.com
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