Israeli security cabinet greenlights independence for 13 Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Saturday that the security cabinet had greenlighted a plan to separate 13 existing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, internationally known as the West Bank, from their neighboring communities.

"We continue to lead a revolution of normalization and regulation in the settlements. Instead of hiding and apologizing – we raise the flag, build and settle. This is another important step on the path to actual sovereignty in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich stated in a post on 𝕏.

Smotrich, who also serves as a minister within the Defense Ministry, argued that the move was designed to address the “great difficulties in their daily management” that these Jewish settlements had previously faced.

"Recognizing each of them as an independent settlement is an important step that will greatly assist in their advancement and development," he said.

The names of the specific settlements affected by the decision have not been released.

Judea and Samaria, which make up the historical heartland of Israel, are currently home to approximately 700,000 Israeli Jews and around 2.7 million Palestinian residents, who predominantly live under the governance of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Much of the global community considers the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria as violating international law. However, Israel disputes this, maintaining that the territory is legally disputed rather than “occupied,” and that Jews have both legal and historical rights to live there.

The PA Foreign Ministry criticized the Israeli cabinet’s decision, claiming that it constitutes a "desperate attempt to impose realities on the ground and consolidate colonial occupation on Palestinian lands."

Pro-settlement politicians in Israel have been emboldened by the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House. Unlike many of his predecessors, Trump is viewed as being relatively supportive of the presence of Jewish communities in the region.

In November, Smotrich welcomed Trump’s electoral victory and called for the application of Israeli sovereignty over Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria.

"Trump's victory brings with it an important opportunity for the State of Israel. We were on the brink of applying sovereignty to the settlements in Judea and Samaria, and now the time has come to do it,” said Smotrich.

He further argued that there is currently broad consensus among Israelis that upgrading the PA into a de facto state would “threaten the existence of the State of Israel.” The upcoming year “will be the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich added.

However, his hopes for Trump’s approval might be premature.

“Trump will not approve annexation,” an unnamed senior Republican senator with close ties to the president stated last November.

While Trump is known for his unconventional approach in the Middle East, he is reportedly focused on securing an historic normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel as a continuation of the Abraham Accords, which his first administration brokered in 2020.

The Saudi government has indicated its willingness to normalize relations with Israel, contingent upon the Jewish state publicly endorsing the internationally supported two-state solution.

Some analysts argue that any move by Israel to annex parts of Judea and Samaria could potentially jeopardize efforts to establish diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.