Israel’s government is quietly advancing a plan for “de‑facto sovereignty” over the territories of Judea and Samaria, according to statements made on Friday by Transportation Minister Miri Regev. In a television interview with Channel 12, Regev described the roll‑out of infrastructure investments—roads, lighting, bypasses—as the first phase of establishing effective Israeli control.

“If you walk around there, you’ll see the number of roads, bypass roads and lighting that we are installing and constructing,” she explained. Regev added that while the moment for formal legal sovereignty has not yet arrived, she believes “in the end, there will be [sovereignty]. Even the US administration understands that there is no other way.”

Regev’s remarks come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ramped up settlement approvals in the territories liberated during the 1967 Six‑Day War. Since late 2022, his government has approved some 50,000 housing units and over 50 new Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The infrastructure push through the Transportation Ministry appears to be the underpinning of a broader strategy to embed Israeli permanent presence before legal or diplomatic recognition catches up.

Nevertheless, the timing of these developments has raised tensions with the United States. In October, the Knesset advanced two bills designed to apply formal sovereignty to Judea and Samaria—moves that drew sharp criticism from US officials. Vice President JD Vance, visiting Israel at the time, warned: “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.” The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the Knesset votes as “a very stupid political stunt.”

Regev’s positioning appears designed to reconcile Israel’s long‑term goals with American red lines: advance sovereignty in practice while formally leaving the door open to negotiations. “Unfortunately, it’s not time yet, but there will be sovereignty,” she said.

Domestic political implications

Within Israel’s coalition, Regev’s strategy enjoys strong support among the pro‑settler right but faces caution from other ministers concerned about international backlash. The Transportation Ministry’s push signals a shift toward irreversible infrastructure projects that change facts on the ground—roads, lighting, bypasses—that bind Israel more tightly to the territories regardless of future diplomatic outcomes.

According to recent polling, nearly 70 percent of Israelis favour extending full legal sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and 58 percent of Israeli Jews believe the communities in those territories contribute to national security. These figures underscore the domestic political strength behind Regev’s plan.

Regional and international context

Regev’s remarks align with a broader Israeli narrative that sees the territories as non‑negotiable—both strategically and historically. The reference to “radical terror states” in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen underscores the security rationale for pressing ahead.

At the same time, the US remains wary of formal annexation moves. The Trump administration has repeatedly pledged to Arab states that Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank is off the table—and diplomatic sources report reluctance among many countries to participate in multilateral efforts if sovereignty declarations proceed unilaterally.

Analysis: Israel appears to be entering a new phase: infrastructure‑led sovereignty. By building roads, bypasses and lighting, the government is creating de facto control whether or not formal legal sovereignty is declared. Regev’s acknowledgment of this strategy signifies a departure from purely rhetorical ambitions to real‑world implementation.

However, the approach carries risk. With US opposition still strong and international legitimacy in question, Israel may find itself unsecured diplomatically even as it secures terrain. The trick will be advancing national interests without triggering a breakdown in America‑Israel cooperation.

For now, Jerusalem is betting that infrastructure, facts on the ground and a steady accumulation of control will outlast diplomatic delay. As Regev put it: “It’s not the time yet, but there will be sovereignty.”

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