What Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu would risk by annexing the West Bank

Leader faces calls from ministers, party members to take step that could rile Arab world, Trump

- Fellz Solomon

Netanyahu has promised a strong response to growing recognition of a Palestinian state.

(AP)

The cascade of Western governments recognizing a Palestinian state this week has been met in Israel by calls from ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to permanently snuff out that idea by annexing the West Bank.

The problem for Netanyahu is that doingso would upend years of effort to normalize Israel's relations with the Arab world under the Abraham Accords, agreements that President Trump countsasthe signature foreign policy success of his first term.

Netanyahu has promised a strong response to growing recognition of a Palestinian state, and annexing all or part of the West Bank represents his most forceful option.

Short of annexation, analysts said, Israel could take steps to further squeeze the Palestinian economy. Orit could curb consular ties with France, a leader of the effort to recognize a Palestinian state, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Netanyahu said Sunday he would announce his response when he returns from the United Nations General Assembly this week in New York City. “Stand by,” he said.

With Israel's international isolation deepening, the Israeli leader must weigh whether ending Palestinian hopes for a state is worth damaging relations with the Arab world and potentially the U.S.

The Abraham Accords established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries. Israel agreed to dropa proposed annexation of parts ofthe West Bank asa condition for reaching agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

Arab states have warned that annexation could undermine the agreements or at least prevent their expansion, which in turn would dentTrump’shopes of establishing his legacy as a peacemaker.