Summary

Israeli settlers in the West Bank, emboldened by Trump’s return and a far-right Israeli government, are pushing for formal sovereignty over the territory.

Settlement activity has surged to record levels under Prime Minister Netanyahu, with nearly 6,000 acres designated as state land in 2024 and dozens of new outposts established.

While settlers see this as fulfilling Biblical claims, Palestinians view it as erasing hopes for a future state.

Critics warn annexation could jeopardize regional stability and U.S.-brokered normalization efforts, such as those with Saudi Arabia.

  • Lauchs@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    People have called for it but it slowed during the war etc. There’s a reason Smotrich waited until after the American election to announce that he was tasking government officials to draw up plans etc.

    Gaza violence is not the same as annexing the West Bank.

    • Saleh@feddit.org
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      6 days ago

      Things didnt slow down past the immediate issue of having to redeploy some settler terrorists from the Westbank to Gaza.

      Overall they accelerated a lot already in 2024.

      • Lauchs@lemmy.world
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        6 days ago

        It’s worth reading the article. You might be conflating a report released in 2024 with the numbers from 2023.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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      6 days ago

      I am starting to wonder if all the people who decided that voting for Harris was voting for genocide even know that the West Bank and Gaza are totally different places.