Netanyahu reportedly planning annexation of West Bank amid growing recognition of Palestinian state

Netanyahu, top ministers to discuss West Bank

Netanyahu will be joined by Defence Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in this week’s meeting.

Palestinian protesters carry posters reading “No to the starvation of Gaza,” during a protest in front of the United Nations office, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

According to Ynetnews, in the previous meeting, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer voiced support for applying sovereignty over the West Bank.

“There will be sovereignty in Judea and Samaria — the question is over which parts,” Dermer reportedly said during the meeting.

The report added that in the previous closed-door meeting, ministers debated whether to extend sovereignty only to major settlement blocs or to specific regions such as the Jordan Valley. Officials also considered whether to act in response to international recognition or to pre-empt it with a proactive move.

Growing recognition of state of Palestine

Israeli ministers pushed for the annexation of the West Bank in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that his country will recognise the state of Palestine in September. Several other countries, including Canada, the UK, and Belgium, have also since announced that they would recognise Palestine, as Israel’s international isolation grows over the continuing war in Gaza.

Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli response

Ynetnews report said that Dermer had already warned French officials in recent conversations that “pushing us to respond will not advance a Palestinian state.”

Responding to the development, Knesset member Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionist Party said it was time for Israel to annexe the West Bank.

“Sovereignty is not a reaction to international moves or threats. It is the only way to secure Israel’s future. The time for sovereignty is now,” he said.

West Bank

The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War. The West Bank, which stretches across the eastern border of Israel along the west banks of the Jordan River, is still home to some three million Palestinians. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem.