Israel fumes over Western recognition of Palestinian state, pushes for West Bank annexation

Western recognition of Palestinian statehood invited anger across Israel on Sunday, with government ministers calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank in retaliation.

The UK, Canada and Australia recognized the state of Palestine on Sunday, in a move seen as a diplomatic push for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry called the recognition “nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas.”

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on the Israeli government to take what he called immediate countermeasures by annexing the West Bank and “a complete crushing of the Palestinian Authority.”

Writing on US social media company X, Ben-Gvir said he would submit a proposal for the West Bank annexation in the upcoming government meeting.

Yair Golan, head of the opposition Democrats Party and a former deputy army chief, considered the Palestinian statehood recognition “a severe political failure of (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich - a destructive move for Israel's security."

“This is a direct result of Netanyahu's political abandonment: refusal to end the war and the dangerous choice of occupation and annexation,” Golan said, calling for a stronger political stance to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

Several other countries, including Belgium, France, and Portugal, are expected to formally recognize the Palestinian state in the UN General Assembly this week.

UN investigators recently concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, where more than 65,000 people have been killed since October 2023.

Around three-quarters of UN member states already recognize Palestine, with Ireland, Spain, and Norway having formalized recognition last year.