Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance in Israel, alongside the broader settlement movement, has demonstrated a powerful influence on determining the present and future dynamics between Jews and Palestinians in the West Bank. This was particularly evident on Sunday, when the cabinet approved measures allowing enforcement authorities to operate in Areas A and B on civil matters, effectively conceding to the demands of the religious Zionist party as a condition for joining the coalition government. Such changes signal a serious escalation in the control exerted over these areas, marking a shift in policy that undermines the Palestinian Authority's governance.

The approval to empower enforcement agencies in Palestinian-controlled territories represents a critical step in the settlement movement's long-standing aim of expanding Israeli influence in the West Bank. By nullifying previous defense mechanisms that prevented such actions, the Israeli government is making it increasingly difficult for Palestinians to resist what is seen as creeping annexation. The continuing move toward integrating territories under Israeli control raises significant concerns about exacerbating tensions in an already volatile region and may lead to further clashes between Israeli and Palestinian communities.

This shift towards annexation is more than a mere policy change; it could reshape relationships and power dynamics in the area for years to come. The robust push from Smotrich's camp indicates not just a political strategy but a deep ideological commitment to altering the status quo in favor of intensified Israeli presence and governance over the West Bank. The implications of this could ignite further international scrutiny and responses as the prospect of peaceful resolution becomes increasingly distant.