Tel Aviv, July 3, 2025 (Agencies): Fourteen senior ministers from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party have formally urged him to annex the occupied West Bank before the Knesset’s summer session ends on July 27, citing strong support from the United States and President Donald Trump.
In a letter shared publicly by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the ministers called for the immediate application of Israeli sovereignty over the territory, referred to by its biblical names, Judea and Samaria. The signatories include ministers overseeing defense, justice, economy, energy, education, and other key portfolios, along with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The ministers argue that the current geopolitical climate presents a “historic opportunity” to move forward with annexation. They warned that recognizing settlement blocs while allowing for a future Palestinian state would pose an “existential threat” to Israel.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, one of the signatories, stated, “The time for sovereignty has come. This is a moment we must not miss.”
The call comes ahead of Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to Washington next week for talks with President Trump. The annexation push has already drawn condemnation from regional powers including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who view the move as a violation of international law.
The Palestinian Authority has denounced the proposal, reiterating that the West Bank is an essential part of a future Palestinian state. International bodies, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, have consistently declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War and has steadily expanded settlements in the territory. The latest push for annexation comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing violence in both Gaza and the West Bank.