In brief
With a new administration on the horizon, West Bank settlers believe they may have a chance for annexation and see the prospect of a Palestinian state as increasingly unlikely. Their hopes rest on recent political shifts and appointments.
In the Jewish settlement of Shilo, located in the West Bank, resident Eliana Passentin enjoys a breathtaking view stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. However, she's eager for Israel to formally annex the area. With the anticipated return of Donald Trump as President, settler leaders feel buoyed by his cabinet picks, such as Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Jerusalem and Pete Hegseth, a pro-settlement defense secretary nominee.The West Bank is home to nearly half a million settlers and approximately 2.7 million Palestinians, who envision the area as part of a future Palestinian state. In contrast, after the recent surge of violence and political changes, West Bank settlers are more confident than ever that such a state is no longer feasible. Many are hopeful that annexation may soon occur, despite the international opposition Israel has faced since it captured the territory from Jordan in the 1967 war. "We want to live our lives in Israel," Ms. Passentin declared, expressing optimism that the new administration will back Israel’s decisions regarding the region.
