Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia

Smotrich vows to annex 82% of West Bank, threatens to dismantle PA

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Sep 2025 22:21
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank, threatening to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, as international and regional actors warn the move violates international law and risks destabilizing the region.

Listen
  • x
  • israeli media
    Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gestures toward a map of the occupied West Bank during a press conference at the Finance Ministry in occupied al-Quds, September 3, 2025 (Israeli media)

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly declared on Wednesday that "Israel" is moving ahead with plans to annex vast areas of the occupied West Bank, in what rights groups and international bodies describe as a flagrant violation of international law.

Speaking at a press conference in occupied al-Quds, Smotrich stood before a map depicting the potential seizure of most of the West Bank, excluding only six major Palestinian cities such as Ramallah and Nablus, according to Reuters. He boasted that he seeks to impose so-called "sovereignty" over 82% of the territory, declaring: "It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and remove once and for all the idea of dividing our small land and establishing a terrorist state in its heart."

Smotrich went further, threatening to dismantle the Palestinian Authority (PA): "If the Palestinian Authority dares to rise up and try to harm us, we will destroy them just as we do Hamas."

Settlement expansion as precursor

The minister's remarks follow the August 14 announcement of the controversial E1 settlement plan, which would link the illegal Ma'ale Adumim bloc with occupied al-Quds. Long branded a "doomsday settlement" by diplomats and human rights groups, the project would bisect the West Bank, cutting East al-Quds off from the rest of Palestinian territory. At the time, Smotrich vowed: "We will bury the idea of a Palestinian state once and for all… and by September, Europe will have nothing to recognize."

Related News

Smotrich, Netanyahu push Gaza-West Bank 'annexation' with US backing

UK considers sanctions on Ben-Gvir, Smotrich over 'Gaza crisis'

In parallel, new illegal outposts have been established across the West Bank in recent weeks. On August 31, settlers moved into a new neighborhood called Aviad near Kiryat Arba, on the outskirts of al-Khalil, in what the settlement council described as a "historic step" designed to sever Palestinian land continuity from Al-Khalil to the Naqab Desert.

Read more: Russia warns 'Israel' E1 plan threatens Palestinian statehood

Cabinet deliberations with US backing

Smotrich's declaration also builds on deliberations within the Israeli Security Cabinet earlier this week. According to Israeli media, the cabinet debated applying "sovereignty" over select West Bank areas as France and other European states prepare to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained cautious, US officials told their Israeli counterparts that "the decision on sovereignty lies in Israel's hands," a message widely interpreted as tacit approval.

In August, US House Speaker Mike Johnson endorsed settler narratives during a West Bank visit, pledging to eliminate the term "West Bank" from official US discourse. Likewise, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the Trump administration respects "Israel's" right to decide on annexation.

Regional and legal backlash

The declaration comes amid intensifying international pressure. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in July 2024 that the occupation and settlement enterprise are illegal, calling for their immediate end and urging states not to recognize or support the situation created by them. UN Security Council Resolution 2334 similarly reaffirmed that settlements "have no legal validity" and constitute a flagrant breach of international law.

Even the United Arab Emirates, a signatory to the 2020 Abraham Accords, has voiced alarm. Assistant Minister Lana Nusseibeh warned last week that annexation would cross a "red line," undermine the Accords, and destroy the vision of two states "living side by side in peace, prosperity, and security."

Smotrich's threats to dismantle the PA and entrench settlement expansion underscore the far-right's determination to erase Palestinian statehood, raising fears of a renewed flashpoint both diplomatically and on the ground.

  • Smotrich
  • Annexation
  • West Bank
  • settlements
  • International Law
  • E1 settlement plan
  • E1 Settlement expansion plan

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters
Politics

Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters

ap
Politics

Cuba's president denounces renewed US meddling in region, backs Petro

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'
Arts and Culture

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks before a lunch with President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Politics

Rubio leading US campaign to oust Maduro through force, sanctions: WSJ

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS