Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing a plan to annex at least parts of the West Bank ahead of this month’s UN assembly, where several Western nations are set to recognize a Palestinian state, according to reports.

Netanyahu is expected to convene with his top ministers Thursday to discuss Israel’s response to Western pressure, which is being led by France over the destruction and looming famine in Gaza.

The Israeli premier is seriously considering applying sovereignty “to certain areas” of the West Bank, but he has yet to make a final decision despite pushes from members of his far-right coalition, the Jerusalem Post reported. 5

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has long called for the annexation of the West Bank, has insisted that Netanyahu claim a “

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