What's happened
Following Donald Trump's election victory, Israeli officials express optimism about potential annexation of West Bank settlements. Key figures, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, see this as an opportunity to solidify Israeli sovereignty, raising concerns about the future of Palestinian statehood amid ongoing conflict.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Tia Goldenberg of The Independent, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that Trump's victory presents an 'important opportunity' for annexation, emphasizing the need for international recognition. Barak Ravid from Axios highlights Huckabee's close ties to Netanyahu and his pro-settler stance, suggesting that Trump's second term could be the most favorable for Israeli settlements. Josh Marcus, also from The Independent, notes that the Palestinian Authority has labeled these plans as a 'campaign of extermination' against Palestinians, indicating the severe implications for peace in the region.
How we got here
Trump's first term saw significant U.S. support for Israeli settlements, including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. His administration's policies emboldened settlement expansion, leading to heightened tensions with Palestinians, who seek statehood in the West Bank and Gaza.
More on these topics
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered by Jordan to the east and by Israel to the south, west and north. The West Bank also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli politician. The leader of Tkuma, he is currently a member of the Knesset for the Yamina alliance.