Netanyahu may decrease the West Bank annexation to ensure Saudi normalization – Israel News

On By Littum

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can admit that the West Bank Annception in favor of promoting a normalization agreement with Saudi -Arabia, coalition officials told Jerusalem Post On Tuesday.

The officials who spoke on condition of anonymity shared fear that Netanyahu will use a delay in annexation as a compromise in attempting to swing Riyadh away from demanding a path to a Palestinian state.

The prime minister, who was ready to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, has previously stated his intention to expand the Abraham agreements and reach a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. In turn, the Saudis require an end to the war in Gaza and a path to a Palestinian state, two diplomatic sources told the post.

Many on the Israeli right were hopeful that Trump’s return to the White House would raise the prospect of Israel pushing to annex the West Bank or possibly declare its full sovereignty over the disputed territories.

Back in 2020, Netanyahu pushed the first Trump administration to allow Israel to declare sovereignty over 30% of the West Bank as part of Trump’s peace plan. The plans could not be realized because of resistance from inside the administration and then Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are shaking hands, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks at (illustrative). (Credit: Bandar Algaloud/courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via Reuters, Canva, Reuven Kastro, Shutterstock)

Right -wing elements

While Trump has recently noticed in private conversations that the annexation of the West Bank is away from the table for now, right -wing elements of Israel’s government hoped that Netanyahu could convince Washington to approve some kind of annexation.

However, these elements now fear that they would again be removed from the agenda.