Israel’s finance minister threatens with Annexion from West Jordanland

The Israeli Finance Minister Bezhalel Smotrich has threatened with the annexation of the West Bank, a Palestinian state should be recognized in the coming month. At the same time, he announced the construction of around 3,400 other residential units for Israeli settlers in an area in occupied West Bank, which is considered to be particularly sensitive in conflict with the Palestinians. The plans were internationally met with criticism – also from the EU and the federal government.

“You have no chance, there will be no Palestinian state,” said Smotrich during a press conference, aimed at several countries that want to announce recognition at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “You will not decide from overseas what the future of the Jewish people looks like.”

Smotrich said near the Maale Adumim settlement: “If a Palestinian state recognizes her in September, our answer will be to make full Israeli sovereignty in all areas of Judea and Samaria (Hebrew name for West Bank).”

Several states, including France, Canada and Australia, want to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming month. Almost 150 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have already done this. The aim is to advance a two -state solution. This means that Israel and an independent Palestinian state exist peacefully by side.

Israel, on the other hand, rejects recognition as a “reward for Hamas” after the massacre in the Israeli border area on October 7, 2023. Ghazi Hamad, a high-ranking Hamas member, praised the expected recognition last month in a TV interview as “Fruits of October 7”.

Smotrich also announced plans for the construction of around 3,400 residential units in the E1 area between East Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement. This step “finally buried the idea of a Palestinian state,” said Smotrich on site.

The area is one of the most sensitive points in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Its strategic location between East Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement means that a development would actually divide the West Bank here into a northern and a southern part. This would make a coherent territory considerably more difficult for a future Palestinian state, if not impossible. This is exactly why construction plans in this area encounter particularly strong criticism internationally. Under international pressure, Israel had repeatedly shifted the blueprints for E1 in the past.

In 1967 Israel had conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where today more than 700,000 settlers live in the middle of around three million Palestinians. According to international law, the settlements there are illegal. The Palestinians claim the areas for their own state with East Jerusalem as the capital. However, the Israeli government rejects the two -state solution on the grounds, this endanger Israel’s existence.

The peace organization Peace Now announced that a final approval of the controversial blueprints was planned next Wednesday. “The E1 plan is fatal to the future of Israel and for every chance of a peaceful two-state solution,” said the message. “We stand on the edge of an abyss and the government is driving us at full speed.” Annexion steps would continue to remove Israel from a peaceful solution and “guarantee many other years of bloodshed,” warned the organization.

The federal government reacted with sharp criticism to the statements of Smotrich. “The Federal Government decidedly rejects the announcements of the Israeli government to approve thousands of new residential units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank,” said the Federal Foreign Office on Thursday evening. “Settlement construction violates international law and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The EU asked Israel to refrain from the decision and to cease settlement construction in the West Bank in general. Such one -sided decisions “exacerbate the already tense situation on site and continue to undermine every possibility for peace,” said foreign representative Kaja Kallas, according to a message. They also violate international law.

Sharp criticism also came from Arab countries. The Golf state of Qatar criticized that Israel occupation policy would solely aim at the forced expulsion of the Palestinian population. Jordan and Egypt warned, Israel’s settlement policy prevented peace and stability in the region.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suspended Annexion plans in West Bank in 2020 in return for an approximation with the United Arab Emirates.