Israel consolidates its hold on the West Bank before Netanyahu travels to the United States as the government rolls out a series of far-reaching measures that significantly expand Israeli authority over the occupied territory, drawing sharp criticism from Palestinians and international observers.
Just days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington, Israel’s security cabinet approved decisions that broaden enforcement powers and open new pathways for settlement expansion. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the moves as ones that would “fundamentally change the legal and civil reality” of the West Bank, which the United Nations and much of the international community view as land reserved for a future Palestinian state.
Expanded Enforcement and Settlement Growth
Among the most consequential steps is the extension of Israeli enforcement into Areas A and B of the West Bank. Under the Oslo Accords, these zones—together accounting for roughly 40% of the territory—were placed under Palestinian security control. The new measures effectively weaken those arrangements and deepen Israel’s administrative reach.
The cabinet also approved the revival of Israel’s Land Acquisition Committee, enabling the state to proactively purchase land in the West Bank to facilitate settlement growth. Additional decisions grant the Israeli civil administration and the small Jewish settler population in Hebron expanded municipal and construction authority, allowing development to proceed without coordination with the Palestinian municipality.
Another set of rules is aimed at simplifying land purchases by settlers, a move critics say is designed to accelerate settlement activity and further entrench a Jewish presence across the territory.
Smotrich’s Vision and Political Backing
Smotrich, who also holds a senior role within the Defense Ministry, has been outspoken about opposing Palestinian statehood. In a statement, he said the government was “normalizing life in the territories, removing bureaucratic barriers, fighting for the land, and deepening our presence throughout the Land of Israel.” He added bluntly that Israel would continue efforts to extinguish the idea of a Palestinian state.
Settlement expansion has gained momentum in recent years, particularly during periods of strong backing from US leadership. Last year alone, Israel approved its largest expansion of West Bank settlements in decades, including authorization for 22 new settlements.
Palestinian and International Reaction
The Palestinian Authority condemned the latest decisions, calling them an unprecedented escalation and a continuation of what it described as a comprehensive campaign against Palestinian rights. In a statement, the PA presidency said the measures amounted to the practical implementation of annexation and displacement plans.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem echoed that criticism, saying the decisions confirmed what he called Israel’s “colonial program” aimed at absorbing Palestinian land and displacing its people.
Peace groups inside Israel also voiced alarm. The anti-settlement organization Peace Now argued that while Netanyahu pledged to defeat Hamas in Gaza, his government was instead dismantling the Palestinian Authority and undermining agreements Israel itself had signed. The group warned the moves contradicted Israel’s national interests and the stated position of US President Donald Trump.
Veteran peace activist Gershon Baskin was even more direct, saying Israel’s occupation is illegal and that the government is taking further steps that violate international law.
A Path Toward De Facto Annexation
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan during the 1967 war and has steadily expanded Jewish settlements there—communities widely regarded as illegal under international law. The United Nations continues to classify the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem, as occupied territory that Palestinians seek for their own state.
While Trump has previously said he would not allow formal annexation of the West Bank and warned Israel could lose US support if it pursued such a move, critics argue Israel’s policies already amount to de facto annexation. By expanding settlements and reshaping governance on the ground, they say Israel is making the prospect of a viable Palestinian state increasingly remote.
As Netanyahu prepares for talks in Washington, the latest measures underscore how Israel consolidates its hold on the West Bank before Netanyahu travels to the United States, setting the stage for renewed diplomatic friction over the future of the territory and the long-stalled two-state solution.
