The international spotlight on the Gaza Strip has enabled Israel to tighten control over the West Bank, while lawmakers voted on a law annexing the territory, sparking debate and raising questions about U.S. support.
Gaza Focus Enables West Bank Suppression
With global attention fixed on Gaza, Israel has erected almost a thousand new checkpoints, gates, and walls on the West Bank, effectively preventing Palestinian movement. Approximately one thousand people have been killed since the war began, and residents of towns such as Aboud—25 km northwest of Ramallah—face nightly gate closures from 6 to 9 a.m., halting access to work and schools.
Likud Passes Annexation Bill Amid Political Factionalism
Last week, during a visit by U.S. Vice‑Presidential delegation member J.D. Vance, the Knesset voted on a bill for the total annexation of the West Bank. Though party leader Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that the move was an opposition stunt, it passed with 25 votes for and 24 against, largely supported by ministers Michael B. Smotrich and Itamar Ben‑Gvir and an additional Likud MP. Several party members abstained, but the vote signalled a party stance that favours colonisation rather than abstention.
E1 Expansion and Military Wall Plans
The government’s strategy extends to the so‑called E1 area—about 12 km² east of Jerusalem, adjacent to the illegal settlement Ma’ale Adummim and East Jerusalem. Israel plans to build a wall that would isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and bisect Palestinian territory. In October, Netanyahu approved construction of thousands of housing units in the area, reiterating that “there will be no Palestinian state.”
U.S. Stance and Arms Cooperation
Officially, the United States opposes West Bank colonisation. In a Time magazine interview, former President Trump asserted that annexation would not occur, citing his promise to Arab states and the risk of losing U.S. support. However, acts of military assistance—arms deliveries, joint training exercises, and the involvement of American and European businesses—continue, illustrating a complex relationship between political opposition and material backing.
Humanitarian Impact: Gaza and West Bank Violence
During the ongoing Gaza conflict, Palestinian civilians suffer daily attacks, including violence against olive harvesters and livestock on the West Bank. Recent incidents involved settlements targeting a family in Wadi Jheish, with animals shot and injured. The Israeli military’s backing of such assaults and the lack of accountability for perpetrators exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in both territories.
