Cabinet reportedly to discuss applying sovereignty to parts of West Bank

The cabinet is expected to discuss applying sovereignty to certain parts of the West Bank on Sunday, Channel 12 reports, amid growing calls for annexation among right-wing Israeli lawmakers.

According to the network, the discussion comes in light of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s announcement that he will advance a major settlement construction project in the contentious E1 area in the West Bank, between Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim

There is no suggestion that a vote on the matter is expected.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a request for comment on the reported Sunday discussion or the issues on the cabinet’s agenda.

The Ynet news site reported this morning that Netanyahu is holding closed-door talks with senior ministers on the issue of sovereignty in the West Bank. While the government has weighed similar moves many times in the past without results, details of a closed-door meeting of senior officials last week, obtained by Ynet, suggest that “the political climate may create a rare opening for such a step.”

In that meeting, Netanyahu convened with officials including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs, according to Ynet.

Dermer reportedly voiced clear support for annexation, emphasizing that “the question is over which parts.”

Likud MK Avichai Boaron said in a Hebrew-language radio interview this week that “the people of Israel” want West Bank sovereignty and that this will happen “in parallel” with the United Nations General Assembly in September, where France and other Western allies have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state.

Some cabinet ministers, such as Smotrich, Settlements and National Missions Minister Orit Strock, and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, are also said to be pressing for the move ahead of the UNGA.

Last month, the Knesset approved a non-binding motion in favor of annexing the West Bank by a vote of 71-13.