Ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuโs high-stakes visit to the United States, the Israeli security cabinet has approved a series of sweeping measures that significantly tighten its grip on the West Bank. These moves, championed by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, represent a fundamental shift in the legal and administrative reality of the territory. ๐๏ธ๐
Key Policy Shifts ๐
The approved measures mark a major escalation in settlement activity and administrative control:
Enforcement in Areas A & B: Israel will expand its enforcement powers into areas previously designated under the Oslo Accords as being under Palestinian security control. ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐ง
Land Acquisition Restarted: The Land Acquisition Committee has been reactivated, allowing the state to proactively purchase West Bank land for settlement expansion. ๐๐๏ธ
Hebron Municipal Power: Building and municipal powers have been granted to the Jewish settler minority in Hebron, bypassing the need for consultation with the Palestinian municipality. ๐๏ธโก
Streamlined Purchasing: New measures make it easier for settlers to purchase land, aiming to further entrench the Jewish population in the region. ๐๐
Differing Perspectives ๐ฃ๏ธ
The move has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum:
Bezalel Smotrich: Stated the goal is to "normalize life" and "extinguish the idea of a Palestinian state." ๐ซ๐ต๐ธ
Palestinian Authority: Condemned the actions as a "comprehensive war" and a practical implementation of annexation and displacement. ๐ข๐ฉ
Peace Now (Watchdog): Accused the government of imposing "de facto annexation" that contradicts both Israeli national interests and U.S. policy. ๐โ๏ธ
President Donald Trump: Previously stated he would not allow annexation, noting it would cost Israel U.S. support, though his administration's 20-point Gaza plan includes a pathway to Palestinian self-determination. ๐๏ธ๐บ๐ธ
As Netanyahu prepares to meet with U.S. officials, these developments set a tense backdrop for diplomatic discussions regarding the future of the region and the viability of a two-state solution. ๐๐ค
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