(CNN) — Israel is weighing the annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, three Israeli officials said, just as several Western nations move towards recognizing Palestinian statehood this month.

It’s one of the steps Israel is considering in retaliation for the anticipated recognition of Palestinian statehood by France, Australia, Canada, Portugal and the United Kingdom, which would join more than 140 nations that already recognize a Palestinian state.

Late Monday, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot announced plans to recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, saying Belgium had a “duty to prevent any risk of genocide.” But he added that it would only be officially enacted “once the last hostage has been released and Hamas no longer g

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