Smotrich Orders West Bank Annexation Plans Following Trump Election Win

Smotrich, a leading figure in Israel’s far-right, declared to his Religious Zionist Party that the coming year would be defined by the application of Israeli sovereignty over the territory he refers to as Judea and Samaria. He publicly expressed confidence that the incoming Trump administration would offer the necessary support to realize this expansion, citing the former president’s previous alignment with Israeli interests.

The Shift in Political Ambition

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has similarly signaled that annexation is once again a viable policy objective. According to the Israeli broadcaster Kan, the Prime Minister has pivoted from his previously cautious stance under the Biden administration to embrace the prospect of formal control. This direction aligns with Netanyahu’s long-standing refusal to support a two-state solution, having previously argued that Israel must maintain security control over all territory west of the Jordan River to prevent regional threats.

The proposal faces intense international opposition. While Israel has already moved to annex East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, the global consensus—supported by the International Court of Justice—remains that the 57-year occupation of the West Bank is illegal and constitutes a form of apartheid. Despite this, there are currently over 700,000 settlers living in the region. Recent U.N. data indicates that violence in the West Bank has surged since January 2023, with more than 900 Palestinians killed by soldiers and settlers as the government moves toward a vision of a "Greater Israel" that extends far beyond current borders.