Half of Israelis support West Bank annexation, poll finds

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to launch cabinet discussions on July 1 to extend Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley

A Bedouin man looks at the rubble of a tent in the Deir Hajle Bedouin community, east of the Palestinian city of Jericho, on June 3, 2020 after Israeli authorities demolished five houses and housing units and four sheep barracks that they said were built without permission, in the occupied West Bank. AFPShow less

Half of Israelis support annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, although they are divided over whether to take the step without US support, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.

Some 25 percent of Israelis surveyed by the Israel Democracy Institute think-tank said they want their government to apply sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank even without backing from Israel's closest ally.

US President Donald Trump's plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace includes Israel keeping most of its settlements in the West Bank, territory that Palestinians seek for a state.

Palestinians have rejected Mr Trump's proposal. They and most countries consider Israel's settlements in the West Bank illegal. Israel disputes this.

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Gitit in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Yizhar in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Modiin Ellit in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Ofra in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Leshem-Alei Zahavm in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Har Homa in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba in the West Bank. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit.

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Eli in the West Bank.

A handout photo made available by the Peace Now organization showing an aerial view of the Israeli settlement of Bruchin in the West Bank. EPA

Another quarter of the 771 Jewish and Arab Israelis polled preferred annexation only with Washington's backing, while another 30 per cent opposed the move entirely. The remaining 20 per cent were undecided.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to begin cabinet discussions on July 1 on extending Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley – a de facto annexation of land captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

The Trump plan also envisages negotiations leading to a Palestinian state under near-complete Israeli security control, creating what Palestinians leaders say would be an unviable country.

Israeli settler leaders, who met Mr Netanyahu on Tuesday, have voiced concern that annexation under the Trump blueprint would also entail Palestinian statehood and leave some settlements isolated within Palestinian-ruled territory.

Israeli cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi said on Army Radio on Wednesday that settlers need not worry "because there will never be" a Palestinian state. Israeli-Palestinian talks collapsed in 2014, part of a now-moribund peace process that began in the 1990s.

This week, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz ordered the military to begin preparing for the consequences of annexation, which could stoke Palestinian unrest.