Netanyahu reportedly planning annexation of West Bank amid growing recognition of Palestinian state | World News

Israeli Prime Miner Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to annex parts of the West Bank, at a time when more Western nations are recognising the state of Palestine.
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu is set to convene a high-level meeting to discuss the potential application of sovereignty in the West Bank. According to Ynetnews, this will be the second such meeting in two weeks.
Netanyahu, top miners to discuss West Bank
Netanyahu will be joined Defence Miner Israel Katz, Foreign Miner Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Miner Yariv Levin, National Security Miner Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Miner Bezalel Smotrich in this week’s meeting.
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Palestinian protesters carry posters reading “No to the starvation of Gaza,” during a protest in front of the United Nations office, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
According to Ynetnews, in the previous meeting, Strategic Affairs Miner Ron Dermer voiced support for applying sovereignty over the West Bank.
“There will be sovereignty in Judea and Samaria — the question is over which parts,” Dermer reportedly said during the meeting.
The report added that in the previous closed-door meeting, miners debated whether to extend sovereignty only to major settlement blocs or to specific regions such as the Jordan Valley. Officials also considered whether to act in response to international recognition or to pre-empt it with a proactive move.
Growing recognition of state of Palestine
Israeli miners pushed for the annexation of the West Bank in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that his country will recognise the state of Palestine in September. Several other countries, including Canada, the UK, and Belgium, have also since announced that they would recognise Palestine, as Israel’s international isolation grows over the continuing war in Gaza.Story continues below this ad
Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Israeli response
Ynetnews report said that Dermer had already warned French officials in recent conversations that “pushing us to respond will not advance a Palestinian state.”
Responding to the development, Knesset member Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zion Party said it was time for Israel to annexe the West Bank.
“Sovereignty is not a reaction to international moves or threats. It is the only way to secure Israel’s future. The time for sovereignty is now,” he said.
West Bank
The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War. The West Bank, which stretches across the eastern border of Israel along the west banks of the Jordan River, is still home to some three million Palestinians. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem.