Jerusalem: On September 3, Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich unveiled a controversial plan to annex 82 percent of the occupied West Bank, further complicating hopes for Palestinian statehood. The proposal, presented during a press conference in Jerusalem, involves a redefined map of Israel, assigning the Palestinian Authority control over only six major cities in the West Bank.
According to France24.com, this move by Smotrich is part of a broader Israeli government strategy aimed at extending sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. The announcement follows decisions by several Western nations, including France, to officially recognize a Palestinian state, underscoring the widening international divide over the issue.
On September 11, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Maale Adumim, one of the largest settlements in the West Bank, to announce an expansion of the settlement. Addressing its 40,000 residents, Netanyahu declared that there would be no Palestinian state, asserting, "This place belongs to us." Residents like Eda, encountered at a local shopping center, expressed approval of the decision, citing the need for enhanced security and connectivity to Jerusalem since October 7, 2023.
Eda acknowledged international criticism of the expansion but insisted on preventing the creation of a Palestinian state, arguing that Palestinians do not desire peace. Similarly, resident Hadar emphasized the need to move forward regardless of international opinions.
The Israeli government's approval of Maale Adumim's expansion is seen as a direct response to recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by France and other Western nations. Netanyahu and Smotrich's endorsement of the E1 project, a long-standing plan to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank, further underscores Israel's position. The E1 project, which had been stalled due to U.S. opposition, seeks to construct 3,400 housing units and connect settlements to the Jordan Valley. The United Nations warns that this could severely impact the territorial continuity of Palestinian territories.
Maale Adumim's mayor, Guy Ifrah, praised the government's decision, asserting that E1 is within municipal boundaries and does not infringe on Palestinian land. He argued that new roads for Palestinians would mitigate any disruptions to their movement, despite requiring detours to Jerusalem. Ifrah highlighted the project's potential to accommodate 15,000 additional residents, with subsidies planned for locals and reservists.
For Israeli lobbyists advocating for increased Jewish settlements, the E1 project's approval marks a significant political win. Naomi Kahn, spokesperson for the pro-settlement group Regavim, dismissed claims of Arab presence on the land and criticized the notion that Israel needs permission to utilize West Bank land resources. Kahn, a supporter of a "Greater Israel," disputed accusations of colonization and offered her interpretation of international law, challenging the view that Israel has illegally occupied the West Bank since 1967.
Kahn contended that the West Bank has been a "disputed territory" since the Ottoman Empire's fall in 1922, with Israel's eastern border recognized as the Jordan River. She noted that Jordan's 1948 invasion of the West Bank was condemned globally, reinforcing her stance on Israeli sovereignty.