France, Germany condemn Smotrich call for total West Bank annexation
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A spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said that Smotrich's statements directly contradicts international consensus on the pre-1967 lines and poses a barrier to de-escalation efforts in the area.
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French flag under the Arc de Triomphe during commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, Armistice, ending World War I, at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (AP)
The French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned recent statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for "Israel's" annexation of the West Bank, warning that such remarks violate international law and hinder efforts to ease regional tensions.
A spokesperson for the ministry said that Smotrich's statements directly contradict international consensus on the pre-1967 lines and pose a barrier to de-escalation efforts in the area.
The ministry reiterated France's commitment to a so-called "two-state solution" as the only viable framework for a lasting resolution.
"France reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, as the only viable prospect for a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said the spokesperson.
Similarly, Germany’s ambassador to the Israeli occupation on Tuesday condemned calls by Smotrich to annex the occupied West Bank.
"The demand by Minister Smotrich to ‘apply (Israeli) sovereignty’ over the Westbank is an open call for annexation. Any preparation to implement this goal is in full breach of international law. We strongly condemn this announcement which threatens the stability of the entire region," Steffen Seibert wrote on X.
Preparations for annexation underway
On November 11, Smotrich announced that he had directed his department to prepare for this annexation, citing the election of Donald Trump as an opportunity to advance this agenda.
Earlier in June, Smotrich revealed plans to solidify Israeli control over the West Bank without formal annexation, indicating a strategic approach to extend sovereignty over the territory.
Read more: Smotrich calls for settlers to enforce mass expulsion of Gazans
These actions have drawn international criticism. Kim Johnson of Amnesty International and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) both issued statements condemning Smotrich's announcement ordering preparations to annex the West Bank, a move he referred to as "the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria" for 2025.
In her statement, Kim Johnson called Smotrich's directive a "dangerous escalation" that steps towards illegal annexation and disregards international law. Johnson further urged for a ban on Israeli settlement goods to halt the displacement of Palestinian communities.
I strongly condemn Smotrich’s call to "apply sovereignty" over the West Bank. A clear step towards illegal annexation, it’s a dangerous escalation that further disregards international law.
— Kim Johnson (@KimJohnsonMP) November 13, 2024
We must ban Israeli settlement goods to stop the displacement of Palestinian communities. pic.twitter.com/sfdpVj86m2
Jewish Voice for Peace offered a broader critique, linking Smotrich’s push for annexation to "Israel's" longstanding policies in the occupied territories. JVP said that "Israel" has eroded Palestinian governance in the West Bank through military control, destruction of homes, and settlement expansions since the Oslo Accords. According to JVP, Smotrich’s move aligns with Zionism’s goal of establishing an ethnostate privileging Jewish citizens over Palestinians, relying on "a colonial logic" and US support.
JVP attributed the impact of US involvement, specifically noting how Donald Trump’s election and his projected ambassador to "Israel", Mike Huckabee, who has denied the existence of the occupation, for emboldening Israeli officials to pursue annexation aggressively.
JVP warned that full annexation would likely lead to increased settlement activity, the intensification of apartheid conditions, and the risk of mass expulsions of the nearly 3 million Palestinians residing in the West Bank.
Yesterday, the far-right Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced that he ordered preparations to annex the occupied West Bank, boasting that 2025 will be "the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria." Judea and Samaria is how the Israeli state refers to the West… pic.twitter.com/1hCQvLuKZC
— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) November 13, 2024
