Israeli escalation and settler attacks signal start of West Bank annexation, analyst says

Political analyst Ashraf Akkah said that the recent escalation by Israeli forces and attacks by settlers mark the beginning of the annexation of the West Bank.

Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya FM, he added that these actions are a practical culmination of the Israeli government's policies over the years, influenced by the coalition agreement that brought together settlers, ultra-Orthodox parties, and Likud.

The analyst continued that this government has accelerated settlement expansion over the past three years, while also enabling attacks and providing military protection for settlers targeting residents and their resources.

He went on to say that the political landscape in Israel is shaped by election results and the current government's ability to implement Knesset policies on settlement expansion and its refusal to recognize a Palestinian state.