Israel ignores international pressure and annexes vast tracts of land in the West Bank

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich officially declared the area part of the Israeli state on Friday, paving the way for new construction. “Although there are those in Israel and the world who are trying to undermine our right to Judea and Samaria and other places, we are strategically promoting settlement throughout the country,” said the far-right Smotrich, who himself lives in a settlement on the occupied West Bank (in the district of Judea and Samaria, named after ancient Israelite kingdoms).

The announcement of the annexation coincided with the visit of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Last month, the United States spoke out clearly against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel conquered this territory in 1967, although most countries consider Israeli occupation and colonization illegal.

The timing of the annexation is particularly striking because Israel’s actions are currently under intense scrutiny due to the war in Gaza, in which 32,000 Palestinians have already been killed. The International Court of Justice is investigating whether genocide has occurred, while more and more allies are openly criticizing Israel. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry calls the annexation a continuation of “the extermination and expulsion of our people from our homeland” and points out that the international community is complicit in its failure to take action.

Two-state solution

The war in Gaza has also increased calls for a two-state solution. Since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, an independent Palestinian state has not come any closer. The expansion of Israeli settlements poses a major hurdle to the two-state solution because the West Bank should form the core of a future Palestinian state.

Blinken spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday in an effort to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and look at alternatives to a ground offensive in Rafah. In recent days, the EU, the United Kingdom and Australia have already called for an immediate ceasefire to avert the threat of famine. The seizure of a large plot of land in the Jordan Valley seems to be a clear signal that Israel has no intention of paying any attention to the outside world.

It is already the sixth time that Blinken has made a tour of the Middle East since the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7. The US is taking an increasingly fierce stance towards Israel. According to the State Department, Blinken urged Netanyahu on Friday to protect civilians in Gaza and for Israel to bring in more humanitarian aid as soon as possible. He also warned Netanyahu again against invading the crowded border town of Rafah.

‘Alone if necessary’

Although, according to analysts, Israel is very dependent on American support, especially in the field of weapons, Netanyahu dares to ignore American warnings. Immediately after Blinken’s visit, Netanyahu reiterated in a message on X that a ground offensive in Rafah is necessary. He writes that he told Blinken that he hopes for American support, but that Israel will “go it alone if necessary.”

Rafah is located in the south of the Gaza Strip on the Egyptian border. A large number of civilians driven from their homes by the war have fled to Rafah. About half of Gaza’s residents now live here, with nowhere to go. The international community is very concerned about the consequences of a ground operation in the crowded border town, but according to Netanyahu, thousands of Hamas fighters are also staying there and a ground offensive is the only way to neutralize them.

In the meantime, the UN Security Council continues to argue over a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. After having vetoed it three times before, the US itself submitted a resolution on Friday. It called for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire,” the release of all Israeli hostages and the admission of more humanitarian aid. China and Russia want an unconditional ceasefire and therefore voted against. In the meantime, France is already working on a new draft text.