Israel Threatens West Bank Annexation Ahead of France-Saudi Push for Palestinian Statehood Recognition

Watan-International political tensions are mounting ahead of a major international conference set for June, jointly spearheaded by France and Saudi Arabia, with the goal of rallying global recognition of the State of Palestine. As world leaders prepare to attend, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issued a direct warning to Western countries, stating that any unilateral recognition of Palestine will be met with “unilateral actions” from Israel.

In comments reported by Hebrew-language media, Sa’ar warned that one of the most prominent of these actions would be the formal annexation of the West Bank, including Israeli settlements and strategic areas in the Jordan Valley. His remarks came during a series of meetings with his counterparts from the UK and France, aimed at pressuring them ahead of the upcoming conference.

The spotlight is on June 18, considered the political climax of the event, where French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to lead international efforts toward symbolic and practical recognition of Palestine—describing it as a “step toward peace” and a revival of the two-state solution.

Israel’s Escalation Threat

Tel Aviv views the recognition effort as a challenge to what it calls its “right to self-defense”, and warns that it will respond with escalation, using the move as justification for more settlement expansion.

Israeli diplomatic sources stressed that “all options are on the table”, and that Israel’s response will match the scale of recognitions announced at the summit. The threat to annex West Bank territories is not just a field-level escalation, but a declaration that Israel will reject any peace solution not on its own terms.

🔴الاحـ ـتلال يهدد صراحة ويلوّح بضم “#الضفة وغور #الأردن” إذا اعترفت هذه الدول الكبرى “بدولة فلسطين”..

والسؤال هنا: أين محمود عباس من هذا؟، وهو الذي يرى التنسيق الأمني “مقدّسًا” وفيه نجاة للفلسطينيين وضمانة عدم توسع الاحتلال؟! ويفاخر بمطاردة المـ&ـقاومــ.ين، ويشتمهم علنًا… pic.twitter.com/2YVDq7v80f

— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) May 26, 2025

Global Momentum for Recognition

Meanwhile, international calls to recognize Palestine are gaining momentum, especially after the failure of previous negotiations and ongoing accusations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

With June approaching, many observers are asking:

• Will June become the month of reckoning for Palestinian statehood?

• Will Israel impose new facts on the ground through full-scale annexation of the West Bank?

As diplomacy accelerates and rhetoric intensifies, the June summit may mark a turning point in the global confrontation over the future of Palestine—and the legitimacy of unilateral power in shaping it.