Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may delay or abandon plans for West Bank annexation in favor of advancing a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, according to coalition officials. The move comes amid fears that Netanyahu will use the delay as leverage to persuade Riyadh to abandon its demand for a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu has previously stated his intention to expand Abraham Accords and reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, which would require Israel to end the war in Gaza and grant a pathway to a Palestinian state. However, many on the Israeli Right had hoped that US President Donald Trump’s return to office would pave the way for annexation.
Despite this, Trump has reportedly indicated that annexation is off the table for now. As a result, right-wing elements within Israel’s government are losing hope of convincing Washington to approve some form of annexation. The delay or abandonment of West Bank annexation plans could be seen as a compromise to secure Saudi cooperation on normalization and counterbalance opposition from Palestinian groups.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-840662