Netanyahu notches up international blitz on West Bank annexation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said April 26 that he was confident that President Donald Trump will enable the Israeli government to apply Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank within a few months. Netanyahu, addressing by video a conference organized by the European Coalition for Israel lobbying group, said, “Three months ago, the Trump peace plan recognized Israel’s rights in all of Judea and Samaria [the biblical name of the West Bank]. And President Trump pledged to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Jewish communities there and in the Jordan Valley. A couple of months from now, I’m confident that that pledge will be honored.’’

Netanyahu is currently busy passing legislation at the Knesset that would allow the Likud and Blue and White to form a new government. So why was the prime minister in such a rush to bring up the controversial annexation issue again?