far-Right Israeli Coalition Members Demand West Bank Annexation, Reject US Calls for Gaza Focus
Jerusalem – A growing faction within Israel’s governing coalition, comprised of far-right ministers and West Bank settler leaders, is publicly urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritize the annexation of the West Bank over pursuing a ceasefire deal in Gaza, defying repeated warnings from the United States against such a move. The escalating pressure underscores a deepening rift within the israeli government and threatens to further complicate already strained relations wiht Washington.
The push for annexation,gaining momentum despite the ongoing war in Gaza and international opposition,reflects a long-held ideological goal of the Israeli right – to establish permanent Israeli control over the occupied West Bank. This demand comes as the Biden governance has repeatedly called for de-escalation in the West Bank and has warned that annexation woudl be a ”grave mistake” that would undermine prospects for a two-state solution and regional stability.The conflict places Netanyahu in a precarious position, balancing the demands of his hardline base with the need to maintain a crucial alliance with the US, Israel’s primary security guarantor.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both leaders of the far-right Religious Zionism party, have been particularly vocal in their calls for annexation. Ben-Gvir stated on social media earlier this week, “Now is the time to return to the homeland! Now is the time to annex Judea and Samaria!” - using the biblical names for the West Bank. Smotrich echoed this sentiment, arguing that focusing solely on Gaza while neglecting the West Bank would be a strategic error.
Settler leaders have also intensified their lobbying efforts, holding meetings with Netanyahu and other coalition members to advocate for annexation. According to a report in The Times of Israel, Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, stated after a recent meeting with Netanyahu, “We made it clear that the time has come to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. This is not just a matter of ideology; it is a matter of security.”
The Biden administration has consistently maintained that any unilateral steps towards annexation would be counterproductive and would jeopardize the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution.State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated this position on Monday,stating,”The United States remains firmly opposed to any steps that undermine the viability of a two-state solution,including annexation.”
The escalating calls for annexation come as the war in Gaza continues,with ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Analysts suggest that the far-right’s push for annexation is an attempt to exploit the current security situation and advance their long-term political agenda, perhaps complicating efforts to achieve a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The situation presents Netanyahu with a arduous choice: appease his hardline base and risk alienating the US, or resist annexation and potentially face a political crisis within his coalition.
