While Other Countries Push for a Palestinian State, Israel Is Increasing Its West Bank Presence (Neomi Neumann – Washington Institute for Near East Policy)

As international momentum for recognizing a Palestinian state grows—exemplified by the French- and Saudi-sponsored summit to be convened in New York on June 17—the existing order in the West Bank is eroding at an accelerating pace, and tensions that were already simmering before the Gaza war have been intensifying. This erosion has several causes, including political and ideological stagnation on the Palestinian side and declining governance and security efforts by the Palestinian Authority, particularly in confronting the sources of terrorism and lawlessness. At the same time, the steps that Israel is taking to address real security needs are frequently being influenced by growing political pressures from the settler community and their most ardent supporters in the current government. Some of these pressures stem from settler concerns about the latest wave of Palestinian terrorism, while others are tied to a longer-term policy to reshape the West Bank strategic situation in accordance with a more openly declared political and ideological vision—that of preventing the creation of a Palestinian state and establishing more Israeli settlements.

While Other Countries Push for a Palestinian State, Israel Is Increasing Its West Bank Presence | The Washington Institute