Finance minister of Israel threatens West Bank annexation

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's announcement to expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank has sparked international condemnation and raised concerns about the future of a two-state solution. The planned construction in the E1 area could potentially annex parts of the West Bank, effectively dividing it into northern and southern regions, hindering a contiguous territory for a future Palestinian state.

Key international reactions to this move include:

The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the annexation plan, viewing it as a threat to peace and the territorial integrity of Palestinian lands.
British bishops publicly denounced the expansion plan, calling it illegal under international law and a violation of Palestinian self-determination. They urged the UK and international community to oppose settlement growth and support a two-state solution.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has threatened to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, stops annexation, and commits to a two-state framework. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised Starmer's stance, portraying Palestinian statehood as a threat.
Other Western allies, previously critical of Israeli military actions during the Gaza conflict, also fear these settlement expansions will further isolate Israel diplomatically.

Potential consequences of Smotrich’s threat and settlement plans:

Further isolation of Israel internationally, especially among Western allies who might move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood as a political measure against annexation and settlement activity.
Significant setbacks to the two-state solution, with Palestinians fearing the irreversible division and fragmentation of the West Bank into isolated enclaves or “prisons,” ending hopes for a contiguous Palestinian state.
Accusations by Israeli and international NGOs that the annexation efforts represent a deliberate move to implement an apartheid regime, undermining any peace prospects and increasing tensions.
Heightened violence and instability in the region, as settlement expansion continues amid ongoing conflict, with high casualties in the West Bank and Gaza since 2023.

Peace Now, a peace organization, has warned that final approval of the E1 building plans is scheduled for next Wednesday and that it would be fatal for the future of Israel and any chance of a peaceful two-state solution. The Israeli government's rejection of the two-state solution argues that it threatens Israel's existence.

Over 700,000 settlers now live among approximately three million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which were conquered by Israel in 1967. Smotrich plans to build around 3,400 additional housing units for Israeli settlers in a sensitive area of the West Bank, the E1 area, located between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim.

Several countries, including France, Canada, and Australia, plan to recognize a Palestinian state next month. Almost 150 of the 193 UN member states have already recognized a Palestinian state. Smotrich made his threat during a press conference addressing countries planning to announce recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

The goal of recognizing a Palestinian state is to advance a two-state solution, meaning that Israel and an independent Palestinian state coexist peacefully side by side. However, the plans for additional housing units have been criticized internationally, including by the EU and Arab countries like Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt. The Israeli government has rejected the recognition of a Palestinian state as a "reward for Hamas."

The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, British bishops, and various Western allies, have criticized Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's settlement expansion plans in the West Bank, viewing them as a threat to the two-state solution and a violation of international law. If the E1 building plans are approved, which are scheduled for next Wednesday, it could lead to significant consequences such as further international isolation of Israel, accusations of an apartheid regime, and increased violence in the region. Moreover, several countries are planning to recognize a Palestinian state next month, which could potentially advance the two-state solution, but the settlement plans have been met with international condemnation.