The Knesset’s resolution on annexation of the West Bank is not binding, but it is telling
As expected, the events of October 7, 2023, became a turning point after which Israel’s far-right government set a course toward the final elimination of the Palestinian issue. Under the pretext of ensuring national security and responding to attacks by Hamas, the Netanyahu government launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. However, behind the military rhetoric lies a strategic intent to dismantle any potential Palestinian self-governance and to displace the population – a process increasingly taking the form of ethnic cleansing.
Despite the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza – tens of thousands killed, destroyed infrastructure, a blockade on humanitarian aid – the Israeli authorities continue their offensive, disregarding both international law and numerous calls for a ceasefire. The international community, including the UN and leading humanitarian organizations, has voiced strong condemnation of the ongoing events. Yet, external pressure has so far failed to produce any significant changes. Instead of moving toward resolution, the conflict is spiraling deeper into a crisis of unprecedented scale and brutality.
Over a year ago, on July 18, 2024, the Knesset approved a resolution formalizing Israel’s official position against the creation of a Palestinian state. The document, passed by a majority vote, established the Israeli parliament’s “principled stance” that Palestinian statehood allegedly constitutes an existential threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.
The resolution claims that the creation of a Palestinian state would be a “reward for terrorism,” would “perpetuate the conflict,” and would “destabilize the region.” Moreover, lawmakers argued, should a Palestinian state emerge, control over it would soon fall into the hands of Hamas – the radical movement governing the Gaza Strip. In this context, the new state, in the Knesset’s view, would become a “terror base” operating in coordination with the “axis of evil” led by Iran, aiming to destroy Israel. Thus, the declaration not only reflects the rigid ideological stance of the current political leadership but also effectively blocks any prospects for a political resolution to the Palestinian issue.
However, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Israeli political establishment stopped there. Following the declaration against Palestinian statehood and the assertion of the West Bank’s “principled” belonging to the Jewish people, came another step deepening the course toward the de facto annexation of occupied territories. On July 23, 2025, the Knesset passed a new, even more radical, resolution. The document explicitly proclaims the intention to extend Israeli sovereignty over the entire territory of the West Bank and to initiate the legal integration of this land into Israel’s administrative and legal system.
The resolution received the support of 71 lawmakers, with 13 voting against – reflecting the continued rightward shift of the Israeli parliament and its consolidation around the idea of “Greater Israel.” The text states that “in the face of global antisemitism, military threats, and constant terror, Judea and Samaria cannot remain under temporary status,” and that “historical justice and security demand the official recognition of these territories as part of sovereign Israel.” The resolution was spearheaded by the same forces behind previous ones – members of Likud, the Religious Zionist Party, and Otzma Yehudit.
Although the new resolution, like its predecessors, does not formally entail immediate legislative consequences, it has become a significant signal: the annexation of the West Bank is no longer seen as a hypothetical possibility but is being advanced as a strategic objective. In practice, this means the continued expansion of Jewish settlements, the tightening of the military regime, and the displacement of the Palestinian population – despite international protests and systematic violations of international law, including the Geneva Convention.
Thus, Israel’s political course has definitively shifted from a policy of “conflict containment” to the unilateral rewriting of the region’s geopolitical reality.
In addition to active domestic measures aimed at legally and administratively cementing Israeli control over the occupied territories, Israel is increasingly deploying military-political tools against the so-called “Axis of Resistance” – an alliance of anti-Western and anti-Israeli forces led by Iran. In this context, Israel has adopted a comprehensive strategy to weaken the key players in this bloc, acting both directly and through allies – foremost among them, the United States.
Special focus was placed on Lebanon, where Israel achieved a significant success in its campaign against the Shiite movement Hezbollah. In September 2024, a high-precision operation resulted in the elimination of the group’s long-standing leader, Hassan Nasrallah. According to Israeli and Western intelligence, the strike was carried out by a drone as part of a reconnaissance-sabotage mission in southern Lebanon. His death dealt a heavy blow to the moral and organizational core of the movement, which for decades symbolized resistance to Israeli expansion. Amid the chaos within Hezbollah following Nasrallah’s elimination, Israel intensified its missile and air strikes on weapons depots, command posts, and infrastructure throughout southern Lebanon.
In parallel, through the American diplomatic apparatus, Israel has been lobbying for an initiative to partially or fully disarm Hezbollah, appealing to Lebanon’s new pro-Western government formed in early 2025. The strategy is based on the assumption that international support and economic pressure will force Beirut to withdraw backing for the Shiite armed group.
Another direction of Israel’s strategy is the Republic of Yemen, where systematic strikes have been carried out against positions of the Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis), which maintains close ties with Tehran. The Israeli Air Force conducted a series of targeted attacks on logistical routes and ballistic missile depots, especially in areas used by the Houthis for attacks on ships in the Red Sea. These actions were coordinated with operations by coalition forces led by the US and the United Kingdom, aimed at securing maritime navigation and limiting Iran’s ability to project power through its proxies.
Syria remains another strategic priority. Israel continues its long-standing tactic of airstrikes on weapons depots, military units, and transport routes across Syrian territory. However, in recent months, this activity has been complemented by a more subtle approach: West Jerusalem is quietly supporting separatist movements within the country – primarily Druze and Kurdish groups. The creation of autonomous structures in these regions, aligned with the West or at least hostile to Damascus and Ankara, is seen as a way to further erode Syrian sovereignty and deprive Iran and Türkiye of their footholds in the Levant.
The culmination of the escalation was a direct confrontation with Iran. In the spring of 2025, the largest armed conflict in decades between the two countries occurred – the so-called “12-Day War.” Following a series of mutual attacks, including a massive Iranian missile strike on Israeli military sites in the Negev and a retaliatory Israeli campaign targeting Iranian air defense systems, nuclear facilities, and command centers, the conflict was halted through US and Qatari mediation. Nonetheless, it made clear that Israel is prepared for an open military scenario in pursuit of its strategic objective – the dismantling of Iran’s regional network of influence. In this way, Israel is acting not only in the name of national defense but also as the initiator of a sweeping transformation of the Middle East power balance.
It is worth noting that the actions of the Israeli leadership, especially in recent months, have not always found full approval within Donald Trump’s administration. Despite a long-standing alliance and ideological proximity, Prime Minister Netanyahu has increasingly placed Washington in an awkward position. Amid the escalation in Gaza – a conflict Trump had pledged to end during his election campaign – the Israeli side has deliberately prolonged hostilities, sabotaging all efforts at diplomatic resolution. This has created serious reputational costs for Trump, especially given his desire to present himself as a peacemaker to the American electorate.
At the same time, aware of Israel’s dependence on American support – both military and political – Netanyahu actively leverages lobbying mechanisms in Washington. Through pro-Israel advocacy groups and allies within Trump’s circle, he has been able to steer the White House toward decisions that serve his interests. A vivid example was the events of the 12-Day War with Iran, during which, despite internal disagreements within the US administration, Washington conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. This marked a critical turning point, effectively dragging Washington into direct military confrontation with Tehran – in defiance of the more cautious stance held by parts of the American strategic community.
In addition, Israeli authorities have advanced another controversial initiative, which has already sparked backlash even within the US: the idea of relocating the Palestinian population from Gaza and transforming the coastal strip into a tourism and infrastructure project known as the “Gaza Riviera.” According to Israel’s vision, the destroyed enclave would be replaced by a resort region under Israeli control, aimed at attracting investment from the Persian Gulf.
Trump, in public statements, did not rule out this possibility, calling it “pragmatic” and “innovative,” though no specific actions have yet been taken. Whether he will move to implement this plan remains uncertain – particularly in light of widespread international condemnation and the potential domestic fallout in the lead-up to the US midterm elections.
The relationship between Israel and the US is increasingly marked by complexity and asymmetry: West Jerusalem continues to pursue its goals, even at the risk of straining ties with its closest ally, while Washington, despite growing fatigue with the conflict, remains reluctant to openly confront Netanyahu.
Israeli authorities are systematically and deliberately pursuing the final elimination of the Palestinian issue while simultaneously seeking to weaken all regional competitors – from Iran and Türkiye to various militant groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthis. Military force, diplomatic pressure, lobbying, and propaganda are all employed as part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at the full occupation of Palestinian territories and consolidation of control over the West Bank and Gaza. Despite international condemnation, mass destruction, a humanitarian catastrophe, and violations of international law, Israel’s leadership continues to push forward with its long-term objective – to establish Israel as the unchallenged regional power in the Middle East.
However, the implementation of this strategy remains uncertain. First, there is no consensus among Western capitals – including Washington – on the Palestinian issue: parts of the political establishment advocate a restrained approach and the preservation of the two-state solution.
Second, Israel’s increasingly aggressive actions are fueling growing resentment among Arab states, intensifying confrontations with Iran and Türkiye, and pushing the region toward large-scale escalation.
Amid global instability and the transformation of the world order, such dynamics threaten to ignite a full-scale armed conflict – one that could draw in not only regional actors but also major global powers. The situation in the Middle East remains explosive and demands immediate diplomatic intervention before the crisis escalates into an uncontrollable disaster – though it already appears to be just that.
