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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Opinion

Israel’s annexation of the West Bank has been occurring for decades

Anas Iqtait Professor October 26, 2025 — 1.00pm Advertisement

Last week Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, advanced first-reading bills to apply Israeli law in the occupied West Bank, prompting public pushback from Washington and a temporary pause ordered by the prime minister. The headlines suggest annexation has been checked. The record suggests otherwise.

Annexation already operates in practice. In recent years, powers once held by the Israeli army’s Civil Administration have been handed to civilian ministries, giving settler-aligned officials control over planning, land registration and infrastructure. Settlements receive state funding and legal prot

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