Netanyahu threatens ‘stern’ response to recognition of Palestine, warns of regional consequences

The Wall Street Journal published a report warning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court, could jeopardize years of normalization with the Arab world if he yields to pressure from his political allies and decides to move forward with annexing the West Bank.

This comes amid a rising wave of international recognition of the State of Palestine, which has sparked calls within the Israeli government to take “decisive” steps against any move toward establishing a Palestinian state.

According to the report, annexation — whether full or partial — directly threatens the Abraham Accords, which former U.S. President Donald Trump regards as his signature foreign policy achievement. The paper notes that alternatives Netanyahu might consider include tightening economic restrictions on Palestinians or downgrading diplomatic relations with France, which played a central role in recognizing Palestine.

The paper quoted Netanyahu as saying he would respond “firmly” to the international recognitions once he returns from the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, noting that the Israeli prime minister faces the dilemma of balancing his domestic options with maintaining Israel’s regional and international relationships.

The report said Arab governments have sent private diplomatic messages to Israel warning that any step toward annexation would carry severe consequences, chiefly downgrading bilateral relations, undermining the Abraham Accords or blocking their expansion. The paper says this could reflect negatively on Trump’s hopes of burnishing his image as a “peacemaker.”

In the same context, the Wall Street Journal quoted a senior U.S. official as saying Washington is aware that Netanyahu is preparing to respond to the international recognitions and is likely to support him in doing so, though it is unclear whether that support would continue if the Abraham Accords are put at risk.

The paper also noted that calls within Israel to annex the West Bank are not new and predate recent developments. They have been driven by right-wing ministers and Likud members, while Netanyahu during his time in office has continued policies of settlement expansion and strengthened security and financial control over the West Bank.

The paper revealed that the Israeli government recently decided to proceed with a controversial settlement project that would isolate large Palestinian population centers, complicating the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.

The report concluded by stressing that annexing the West Bank is a “red line” for Arab countries, and any move in that direction would force those states to face difficult questions about the future of their relations with Israel.