Netanyahu’s party calls for annexation of parts of West Bank

Tel Aviv (dpa), 1Jan 2018 -   
In a landmark decision, the strongest political party in Israel - the Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - has called for the annexation of a large part of the West Bank.  

Since a war in 1967, the West Bank has been occupied by Israel, which still controls large parts of it although it is regarded in international law as Palestinian territory.  

More than a thousand members of the right-wing Likud party adopted a resolution on Sunday evening calling for Israel to exercise “sovereignty” over parts of the West Bank and for the continued building of Jewish settlements, the Jerusalem Post reported.  Settlements on occupied Palestinian territory are one of the most contentious aspects of the long-running and bloody dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  

Just over a year ago, under former president Barack Obama, the United States allowed passage of a UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to Israel’s settlement activity in the West Bank, and calling the building a violation of international law.  

Current President Donald Trump lambasted that resolution, and has pursued a more pro-Israel line, most recently recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in the face of international criticism.