Statements made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding his intention to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank next year come in a politically and security-sensitive context, marked by escalating tensions in the region. However, these remarks go beyond an internal declaration, as they intersect with growing indications of a possible revival of Jared Kushner's plan, former US President Donald Trump's advisor, which aimed to reshape Arab-Israeli relations without committing to a path that guarantees Palestinian rights within the framework of a two-state solution.
اضافة اعلان
Kushner's plan, which emerged as part of what was dubbed the "Deal of the Century," was based on offering extensive economic support to the Arab countries and Israel in exchange for accepting a political reality that did not require Israel to halt its expansion in the West Bank or establish a true Palestinian state. Although the plan was widely rejected at the time, the rise in regional tensions and the normalization of relations between some countries and Israel has emboldened the Israeli far-right to try to revive this idea, in one form or another.
In this context, Smotrich's statements could be part of a broader strategy to resurrect Kushner’s approach, but with more direct means that involve the complete imposition of control over the West Bank, potentially with implicit support from some international parties. This reflects an Israeli move to exploit the current divisions in international positions and influence public opinion in Arab countries, particularly in light of the shift toward economic and political normalization, which may create new pressures on the Palestinians and pave the way for accepting more extreme Israeli positions on the occupied territories.
The point I want to emphasize here is that the recent and fierce Gaza war on the Palestinian people was part of this complex context, and it seems to have played a role in testing the resilience of regional and international positions toward Israeli policies. The war can be seen as a “show of force” to indirectly impose Israeli control, coming after fast-moving political developments. Its goal seemed to be to marginalize Palestinian resistance factions and reaffirm Israeli security control, setting the stage for a phase in which Israel could impose a new reality on the West Bank.
Considering the timing of the war, it could be an attempt by Israel to solidify its security vision and demonstrate its ability to impose peace by force, establishing it as a fait accompli on the ground. This may pave the way for the return of the US plan or a similar one that takes advantage of the new circumstances. In this sense, the war goes beyond being a military confrontation; it is a step in broader arrangements to impose a political reality that could help create conditions for the potential acceptance of some elements of Kushner's plan, especially those related to normalization and support for Israeli security stability.
In this context, Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, plays a central role in opposing this scheme. Jordan understands that any move to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank or to revive Kushner's plan would constitute a blatant violation of Palestinian rights and a direct threat to the Hashemite custodianship of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. Therefore, at the recent Arab-Islamic summit, Jordan took a firm stance, continuing its diplomatic efforts to build regional and international alliances that reject the annexation and control agenda while emphasizing the two-state solution.
Jordan recognizes that reviving Kushner's plan, or any similar nefarious plans or Israeli annexation moves, could create significant challenges to regional stability and escalate tensions. For this reason, Jordan seeks to expand its opposition stance with other countries, building a strong Arab and Islamic front to prevent these plans from gaining international support, taking advantage of the current international tensions, such as the war in Ukraine, to shift focus back to the Palestinian cause.
In conclusion, Smotrich’s statements about imposing Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank are not just rhetoric; they are part of an attempt to reintroduce Kushner’s vision with more extreme methods. The recent Gaza war could be a preparatory step for broader Israeli control, with Israel trying to solidify policies that would make annexation and expansion a reality eventually accepted by the international community. However, Jordan’s firm position and the formation of a strong Arab-Islamic front act as obstacles to these moves and reaffirm the centrality of the Palestinian issue in the face of international attempts to marginalize or ignore it.
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