Policy Analysis Paper: Accelerated Annexation and Israel’s Transformative Policies in the West Bank

Reading Time: 3 minutes

By: Eman Riyad Bdaiwi.
(Exclusively for al-Zaytouna Centre).

Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations issued a policy analysis paper titled “Accelerated Annexation and Israel’s Transformative Policies in the West Bank,” prepared by researcher Eman Riyad Bdaiwi. The paper examines the qualitative transformation taking place in the West Bank (WB) since the outbreak of the war on Gaza Strip (GS), highlighting the shift in Israeli policy from merely managing occupation to actively implementing de facto annexation. This trajectory threatens to close the horizon for an independent Palestinian state by dismantling the foundational elements of Palestinian national existence.

This paper demonstrates that Israel’s current measures are no longer confined to security control or settlement expansion; rather, they operate as part of a broader transformative agenda, deploying legal, administrative, economic and infrastructural instruments to produce a reality fully integrated into the Israeli system without formal declaration. In doing so, these measures aim to fundamentally redefine the relationship between land, population and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in WB.

The paper examines the dimensions of this transformation as a comprehensive annexation project aimed at reshaping the geographic, political and social realities of Palestinians, effectively rendering the prospect of a viable Palestinian state a purely theoretical option, unattainable on the ground. It further notes that these policies mark a pivotal phase in the history of the conflict with Israel, as the WB undergoes a systematic acceleration of annexation measures designed to entrench the impossibility of any political pathway toward an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state.

The paper argues that Israel’s current policies are producing a silent internal displacement of the population through economic and political restrictions, settler violence and demolition operations. It further warns that Israel seeks to weaken the PA, undermine its legitimacy, and reduce its capacity to provide essential services, thereby diminishing its political standing vis-à-vis both the Palestinian and international communities and erasing any prospects for a Palestinian political horizon.

The paper’s recommendations emphasize the necessity of adopting a comprehensive, practical and implementable Palestinian strategy that focuses on neutralizing the impact of Israeli measures while supporting Palestinian resilience. This strategy should balance the protection of land and population with the enhancement of economic and political capacity, while maintaining a feasible political horizon despite Israel’s dominance on the ground and the complexity of current circumstances. It stresses the importance of keeping the Palestine issue on the global agenda and within UN institutions, including international courts, the Security Council, and the General Assembly, in order to establish sustained pressure tools on Israel within the bounds of current realities and capacities. The Palestinian and international response to annexation policies must be multi-dimensional, encompassing political, civil, economic, legal, technical and media strategies. Such an approach would offer realistic means to mitigate the effects of annexation and halt its projects by intensifying pressure on Israel to end its expansionist policies, while establishing a practical framework that enables Palestinians to safeguard their presence and rights.

Click here to download:
>> Policy Analysis Paper: Accelerated Annexation and Israel’s Transformative Policies in the West Bank … Eman Riyad Bdaiwi (16 pages, 1.6 MB)