In the face of the annexation plan

Smotrich expressed his happiness with Trump's victory in the US presidential election race, hoping that 2025 would be the year of annexation, just as Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Sa'ar, Knesset members and other Israeli politicians did, as they all believe that Trump's term will resolve the conflict with the Palestinian people and will inevitably lead to annexation.

In fact, this Israeli optimism about annexing the West Bank came from urgent military and political considerations, as the Israeli government succeeded in expanding the settlement process in the West Bank, and the Israeli army succeeded in reoccupying Gaza, and establishing semi-permanent military axes that do not indicate at all an imminent Israeli withdrawal from the Strip. The occupation army also encroached on southern Lebanon, and destroyed more than 40 Lebanese border villages, while Israel is working to impose harsh conditions on Lebanon to implement Resolution 1701. Politically, Trump's rise for the second time is an event that will not be repeated for right-wing Israelis who are eager to annex the West Bank. In his first presidential term 2017-2021, Trump spared no effort in supporting Israel, as he recognized Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel, recognized the annexation of the Golan Heights, cut off aid to UNRWA, closed the organization's offices in Washington, and tried to impose his deal known as the Deal of the Century, which is a liquidation project for the Palestinian cause that recognizes the annexation of the Jordan Valley, Jerusalem, and most of Area C to the occupying state.

The initial appointments announced by Trump to his administration team seem to indicate conclusively that Republicans are convinced of the annexation process. Trump appointed Michael Huckabee as ambassador to Israel. He is a politician and cleric who belongs to the neo-conservatives and strongly supports settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. In his first comment after announcing his appointment, Huckabee announced that his administration might not object to the annexation process. On the Israeli side, immediately after Trump’s victory, Netanyahu appointed Yehiel Latter as Israel’s ambassador to Washington. He is an American-Israeli who is described as a Republican in his inclinations, as well as an academic, settler, and rabbi, who calls for resolving the conflict, annexing the West Bank, and continuing the occupation of the Gaza Strip.

Such appointments and public statements indicate a real trend among Republicans and Israelis to resolve the conflict during Trump’s term, and it seems that Trump will not oppose this. On the contrary, he may push for amendments to the Deal of the Century in order to re-promote it. This time, there is no doubt that Gaza will not be part of this deal!

It is not clear how things will go during the first quarter of next year, but Netanyahu may seek to threaten the annexation process in order to pressure Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with it and abandon its condition for the establishment of a Palestinian state, which is what he did with the United Arab Emirates when they signed the Abraham Accords four years ago. The Netanyahu government may resort to a partial declaration of the annexation of some areas such as the Jordan Valley, and then begin expanding the annexation process to the rest of the areas in the coming years. All of these scenarios are expected and will be decisive if they happen, and they must be confronted by the Palestinians, the Arabs and the international community, so that they do not become a reality that is difficult to change. Among the confrontational policies that I propose in this regard are the following:

First: Strengthening the Palestinian-Saudi-Jordanian-Egyptian front in the face of Israeli plans, especially since Saudi Arabia’s recent positions have become absolutely supportive of Palestinian rights, especially with regard to forming an international alliance to establish a two-state solution.

Second: Forming a broad national, partisan and civil front to confront the annexation process, and proposing national programs in which all Palestinians participate to strengthen the steadfastness of citizens and confront annexation and apartheid policies.

Third: Accelerating the steps towards national unity by calling on all factions and movements that are not members of the PLO to join the organization and commit to its programs, international commitments and decisions without any prior conditions from these factions.