Israel Plans to Annex 82% of Occupied West Bank, Finance Minister Says

Strategic Insights -

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Wednesday that Israel plans to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank, citing a desire to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. According to Smotrich, the annexation would involve "Israeli sovereignty" over the territory, with the Palestinian Authority running the affairs of the remaining 18%. The move is seen as a significant escalation of tensions between Israel and the international community, which considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal under international law.

Key Takeaways:

  • Israel plans to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stating that "Israeli sovereignty" will be applied to the territory.
  • Smotrich announced that the Palestinian Authority will run the affairs of the remaining 18% of the territory.
  • The annexation is seen as a preventative measure against countries that plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, including Belgium, France, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
  • The move has been met with criticism from the international community, including the UN, which has warned that continued settlement expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution.
  • The International Court of Justice has declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
  • The Israeli government has approved a major settlement project, called E1, which aims to split the occupied West Bank into two parts and isolate East Jerusalem.

Statistics:

  • 82%: The percentage of the occupied West Bank that Israel plans to annex.
  • 18%: The percentage of the occupied West Bank that will remain under Palestinian Authority control.
  • 147: The number of countries that have already recognized Palestinian statehood.
  • 5: The number of countries, including Belgium, France, the UK, Canada, and Australia, that plan to recognize Palestinian statehood during the UN General Assembly meetings.

Sources:

  • Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli Finance Minister, press conference in Jerusalem.
  • International Court of Justice, advisory opinion (July 2022).
  • UN General Assembly, recognition of Palestinian statehood (September 8-23, 2022).
  • Haaretz, Israeli government approves major settlement project E1 (August 20, 2022).