Is Palestinian state recognition provoking Israel to annex West Bank? Ben-Gvir hints at ‘immediate’ action

A recent wave of formal recognitions of a Palestinian state by Western nations has provoked a sharp backlash in Israel, with far-right ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir hinting at “immediate” moves to annex parts or even all of the West Bank. What was intended as a diplomatic boost for Palestinian sovereignty now risks further undermining prospects for a two-state solution.

Recognition momentum meets political backlash

In recent days, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia along with several other countries have formally recognised a Palestinian state, bringing them in line with nearly 150 nations that have already taken the step. The coordinated move reflects mounting frustration over the collapse of peace negotiations and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

These recognitions are seen by supporters as a way to reinvigorate international legitimacy for Palestine even before the state is fully formed. But in Israel, they are widely interpreted as provocations.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been outspoken in his disapproval, warning that recognising a Palestinian state amounts to “a huge reward to terrorism,” and reaffirming that “a Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”

Meanwhile, in a more forceful tone, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has announced that he will propose “immediate” West Bank annexation in response to Western recognition of Palestine. (Times of Israel)

His remarks underscore a new level of urgency in calls from Israel’s political right to consolidate control over disputed territories, complicating already tense territorial and peace dynamics.

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Annexation: a long-standing ambition

Ben-Gvir’s threat is not happening in a vacuum. His position aligns with a broader far-right agenda inside the Israeli government—one that has long endorsed annexation of strategic parts of the West Bank, particularly in Areas C and the Jordan Valley.

Netanyahu and his coalition partners have historically resisted full Palestinian statehood and supported incremental expansion of Israeli governance over occupied lands. The West Bank is already dotted with hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers living under civil law while millions of Palestinians live under military rule.

With recognition pressure mounting from abroad, those ambitions have gained renewed impetus. But annexation would likely face fierce international pushback and heighten tensions across the region.

Recognition’s unintended risk to peace

These developments reveal a paradox: efforts to bolster Palestinian she legitimacy via recognition may paradoxically erode the foundations for a viable Palestinian state by prompting Israeli unilateralism.

Annexation undertaken now—even in limited form—could dismantle disputed territorial contiguity vital to any future two-state outcome. It might also delegitimize Palestinian governance structures, weaken prospects for negotiations, and further diminish international leverage over the ground.

Moreover, such moves could provoke legal, political, and diplomatic consequences. Many countries and international bodies view annexation of occupied territories as a violation of international law. If Israel acts unilaterally, it risks deeper global isolation.

In short, while recognition of a Palestinian state carries symbolic power, it may also ignite a backlash that accelerates the very outcomes it seeks to prevent.