Much will be said and written about the recent “rapid surge” in the discourse on advancing the vision of a Palestinian state. I would like to identify and point out several “simple” but central highlights that deserve very close attention. Ignoring them may constitute a significant stumbling block in advancing the process from declarations to concrete actions. I will start by stating that these concerns relate primarily to the conduct of the current Israeli government and its various agents, who will do everything in their power to sabotage the process.

First, it should be noted that the international initiatives have led to the current situation in which an overwhelming majority of the world’s countries — including some of Israel’s close allies — have recognized the Palestinian state or intend to do so soon.

Perhaps the peak was the recent Security Council resolution, passed on Monday, November 17th, 2025, in accordance with the American administration’s 20-point plan, which states that progress must be made toward a “credible framework” for the establishment of a Palestinian state. This vague formulation has generated considerable frustration and anger among most of the coalition parties, their ministers, their Knesset members, and their supporters.

It is worth remembering that on October 22, 2025, the Israeli Knesset passed, in a preliminary reading, a decision to advance the annexation of all the areas of the West Bank (“Judea and Samaria”). Within a day, those who celebrated and rejoiced after the decision were confronted with a blunt statement by the President of the United States, who announced that he would not allow the annexation of the West Bank. Trump even added a threat that such a step would have broad consequences for Israel–United States relations. This, notably, is the same president who proposed the annexation of roughly 30% of the West Bank as part of the “Deal of the Century” presented by his administration in January 2020 during his first term.

Trump’s forceful statement against the annexation of the West Bank, together with the recent Security Council resolution that calls for a credible framework for the establishment of a Palestinian state, is important and meaningful — but it would be a mistake to exaggerate its significance, and it certainly should not give rise to euphoria. It is important to see and understand these developments in the context of the United States’ overarching interest: strengthening its strategic, security, and economic ties with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

The Saudis, who are the leading regional actor, have for many years remained steadfast in their demand to anchor a commitment to resolving the Palestinian issue as a condition for normalizing relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. The latest developments reflect Trump and his administration’s willingness to meet this demand in order to advance American interests. At the same time, these moves are viewed very positively by the Palestinians (the Palestinian Authority expressed support for the Security Council decision) and by many Israelis who believe that the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is not only the right and just course for the Palestinians, but also a supreme interest of the State of Israel, which cannot continue to control the fate of millions of Palestinians while maintaining separate and destructive systems of rights violations, discrimination, and oppression.

That said, we should harbor no illusions: everything mentioned above remains very far from advancing a resolution to the conflict. The Israeli government may currently be prevented from formally (de jure) annexing the West Bank and is compelled to contend with the Security Council’s decision and the position of the American administration, but this will not stop the ongoing de-facto annexation, which has only been intensifying in recent years — especially since October 2023. Netanyahu’s insane right-wing government, whose agenda regarding the West Bank is driven by the messianic extreme-right parties and their leaders, has advanced, continues to advance, and will continue to advance measures of ethnic cleansing, causing horrific harm to the Palestinian civilian population, including the expulsion of dozens of communities from their living and grazing areas, and the takeover of vast areas in Area C.

These criminal acts are being carried out by violent Jewish terrorists, with the authorities turning a blind eye — and at times even with the cooperation of IDF and police forces. This constitutes a blatant violation of international law, which obligates an occupying power to ensure the safety and security of the population of the occupied territory. The Israeli government and its authorities operating in the West Bank have allowed, and continue to allow, the establishment of dozens of illegal outposts, some of which serve as staging bases for Jewish terrorists who attack Palestinian communities throughout the West Bank. It must be stated plainly and clearly, without any evasion: the Israeli government is, in practice, supporting the criminal Jewish terrorism taking place in the West Bank.

Is there any chance that this violent and outrageous campaign will stop as a result of the decisions and measures described earlier? Extremely doubtful. Moreover, there is a real risk that the policy of ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank will only intensify. There is reason to fear that the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will settle for preventing de-jure annexation and issuing general, vague statements about advancing a framework for establishing a Palestinian state — and will not act against the destructive conduct of the Israeli government and its various arms, which will continue to carry out actions on the ground whose clear purpose is to thwart and eliminate the possibility of creating a viable Palestinian state in the future.

It must be acknowledged that there are currently no meaningful forces within Israel capable of reversing these trends, and therefore there is no chance that the de-facto annexation of the West Bank will be halted from “within.” It is highly doubtful, given the current political landscape in Israel, that the elections expected in 2026 will bring about any change.

It appears that only massive and effective international political and economic pressure on the Israeli government and its authorities may (perhaps) provide the leverage needed to halt the de-facto annexation. This moment presents an opportunity for European Union countries to utilize the developments already underway — including the prevention of de jure annexation by the United States — in order to act against the ongoing de-facto annexation!! As of now, Europe’s involvement is typically limited to minor steps. European countries must understand that statements and declarations condemning the injustices of the occupation and Jewish terrorism are important, but they are entirely insufficient and do not contribute to changing the horrific reality on the ground.

Peace organizations and activists in Israel, who understand all too well the disastrous potential of the occupation and who confront its consequences every day, must “export” the understanding of this reality abroad in an effort to persuade European countries to move beyond their current passive “position.” These countries must exert effective pressure on the Israeli government to eradicate Jewish terrorism, to cease all annexation measures entirely, and even to return the Palestinian communities that were brutally expelled in recent years to their original homes. Germany’s decision to lift its embargo on arms sales to Israel does not contribute to this effort — on the contrary, it obstructs it.

I am far from certain that such an undertaking is guaranteed to succeed, but there is no alternative — it must be attempted!

The author is an activist and a secular-humanist rabbi.