Extremist Israeli Minister Unveils West Bank Annexation Plan
TEL AVIV (Dispatches) -- Israel’s extremist finance minister and de facto “governor” of the West Bank, Bezalel Smotrich, has unveiled a controversial plan to annex the vast majority of the occupied Palestinian territory. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Smotrich proposed absorbing 82 percent of the West Bank into Israel, a move that would effectively eliminate the prospect of a future Palestinian state. Under the proposal, only six isolated enclaves - where major Palestinian cities such as Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho (Ariha) and Hebron (Al-Khalil) are located - would remain outside of Israeli control. All other areas, including dozens of towns and villages, would be formally annexed.