• Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich plans to annex 82% of the West Bank.
• The proposal aims to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
• International reaction includes condemnation from Arab states and the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a controversial plan to annex approximately 82% of the occupied West Bank, asserting it is necessary to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. Smotrich articulated his intention at a press conference in Jerusalem, emphasizing that the goal is to achieve "maximum land with minimum Palestinian population." Such a move would significantly diminish any prospects for a future Palestinian state, potentially accelerating regional tensions, according to Reuters and TRT Global.

Under Smotrich's plan, annexation would cover extensive areas of the West Bank, while major Palestinian cities would remain as isolated enclaves. Smotrich contended that the Palestinian Authority's governance in the region would be dismantled and replaced by "regional civilian management alternatives." He expressed that no Palestinian state could ever be allowed to exist due to existential threats it may pose, according to Middle East Eye and TRT Global.

The announcement has sparked significant backlash from various international actors. The Palestinian Authority condemned Smotrich's remarks, labeling them as "a direct threat to the prospects of establishing a Palestinian state," while noting that unilateral actions would not confer any legal rights over the Palestinian territories. Similarly, Jordan's Foreign Ministry described his statements as "racist" and a blatant violation of international law, warning that inaction will only encourage further aggressive measures by Israeli officials, as reported by Reuters and Middle East Eye.

International bodies, including the UN, have consistently deemed Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, reiterating that continued expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution. The UN International Court of Justice has called for the evacuation of all Israeli settlements, which has imbued Smotrich's plans with further controversy. As nations prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood in upcoming international meetings, Smotrich's annexation proposal is seen as a preventative strike against these initiatives, according to TRT Global and TRT Global.