Israel's De Facto Annexation in West Bank Draws International Scrutiny and Policy Challenges
Israel is increasingly pursuing a policy of de facto annexation in the West Bank, characterized by actions that blur the administrative distinction between Israel proper and the territories, without formal annexation. This approach is evident in measures such as the transfer of responsibility for the Civil Administration to a civilian authority within the Defense Ministry and other steps to erase the Green Line. This policy has led to international pushback, with countries like Britain and the Netherlands taking actions against settlements and goods produced there. Israel, in turn, has threatened retaliatory steps, such as ordering Dutch representatives to leave the International Coordination Center for Gaza Affairs. The international community, bound by laws prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force and viewing occupation as temporary, is unwilling to treat settlements as integral parts of Israel. 
