The Annexation Ploy: Familiar Critiques, Unchanged Outcomes
THE ACTORS: The primary actors include the governments of Muslim-majority nations (as signatories to the joint statement) and the current Israeli administration, led by a coalition that includes openly annexationist figures. International bodies, such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, also play a role in issuing resolutions and legal analyses, often subsequently ignored.
Key figures on the Israeli side, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have consistently articulated maximalist territorial claims, including outright annexation of parts of the West Bank. THE FUNDING: The financial underpinning of the West Bank settlement enterprise is multifaceted. The Israeli government's Ministry of Housing and Construction
allocates significant funds; for instance, in 2021, approximately 2.9 billion NIS (about $800 million USD) was allocated for West Bank settlements (Peace Now, 2022). Additionally, non-profit organizations, many based in the United States, provide substantial tax-deductible donations to support and expand settlements. These donations, often channeled through groups like Hebron Fund and One Israel
Fund, circumvent direct governmental oversight and benefit from U.S. charitable tax laws, effectively subsidizing an enterprise deemed illegal under international law. THE INCENTIVES: For the Israeli government, the incentives for continued settlement expansion and de facto annexation include solidifying control over strategic land, appeasing a politically powerful settler movement, and precluding