In a bold unified move, every minister from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party signed a letter on Wednesday urging the immediate application of Israeli sovereignty over the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria before the Knesset’s summer recess concludes.
The letter—coordinated by the Yesha Council of Jewish communities in the so-called “West Bank”—stresses that this moment represents a “natural extension” of Israel’s strategic gains against Iran and its proxies. “The massacre of October 7 proved that establishing a Palestinian state poses an existential threat,” the letter states, adding: “It is time for sovereignty.”
Timing is key. Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington next week to meet US President Donald Trump, who some speculate will push for a Palestinian state as part of a comprehensive regional agreement. But Likud lawmakers see this as an opportunity to advance Israel’s regional agenda. They believe Trump’s support following Operation “Rising Lion” against Iran provides a diplomatic opening to push sovereignty with American backing.
Trump himself recently lauded the Iran strike during a Cabinet briefing, labeling it a “precision war strike” that left the Fordow nuclear site “obliterated.” He confirmed plans to discuss Gaza and the release of hostages during his upcoming summit with Netanyahu, suggesting broad alignment of US–Israeli strategic priorities.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly endorsed the Likud letter, declaring that on the day the PM gives the order, implementation of sovereignty will follow “in practice” through Israel’s Settlement Administration. Justice Minister Yariv Levin similarly called for sovereignty over Judea and Samaria—remarks that drew swift condemnation from Egypt and Saudi Arabia for allegedly violating international law.
Proponents argue sovereignty will provide long-term security benefits by eliminating an “existential threat within.” Establishing formal Israeli legal authority is seen as a deterrent to Palestinian statehood ambitions. In the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas invasion, most Israelis now see a Palestinian state as an unacceptable threat to their survival.
Will Trump endorse Israeli sovereignty as a natural outcome of recent victories over Israel’s enemies? And if he doesn’t, will Netanyahu have the fortitude to reject pressure to facilitate the creation of a Palestinian Arab state as the price for normalization with other regional powers?
These are the big questions in Israel right now as the prime minister prepares to depart for Washington.
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
The Lord is sovereign, His eternal covenants are sovereign, Israel is a sovereign nation, to reject its sovereignty over its own land will have consequences Trump would be wise not to bring upon himself, or the US. The “Palestinians,” have been a consequence to every nation they have gone into, including Arab nations. Whatever happened to Trump moving them to Islands in the Pacific so they can be taught how to be productive on their own?