TEHRAN – Israel’s latest measures in the West Bank mark another significant step in its long-term expansionist policy. By extending Israeli control into areas currently under Palestinian administration and making it easier for non-Arabs to buy land, Israel is clearly working to strengthen settlements and weaken any future Palestinian state. The statement by Defense Minister Israel Katz that Israel will “continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state” leaves little room for doubt about Tel Aviv’s intentions.

These moves are not isolated. They are part of a broader pattern of Israeli expansion in the West Bank that has continued for decades. Settlements have steadily grown, Palestinian land has been fragmented, and the authority of the Palestinian administration has been reduced. The new rules further undermine Palestinian self-governance, especially in sensitive areas such as Hebron and around Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. Taken together, the measures suggest a gradual but deliberate process of annexation in practice, even if not always in name.

The international reaction has been strong in words but uncertain in action. The European Union called the measures “another step in the wrong direction” and said sanctions remain possible. However, Europe has often limited its response to statements of concern. While EU officials warn that settlements are illegal under international law, trade agreements and diplomatic ties with Israel largely continue as normal. European governments face growing domestic anger over Israeli actions in both the West Bank and Gaza, and strong statements may partly reflect pressure from their own citizens rather than a real shift in policy.

The United States response appears even more contradictory. Although a White House official restated President Donald Trump’s opposition to annexation, the US has long provided strong political and military support to Israel. In practice, Washington has rarely taken meaningful steps to prevent settlement expansion. Declaring opposition to annexation while continuing unconditional support creates the impression of hypocrisy. If the US truly opposes annexation, critics argue, it has significant leverage it could use — but chooses not to.

At the regional level, Arab and Islamic states strongly condemned the measures, warning they could inflame violence and destabilize the region. Yet their influence over Israeli policy remains limited. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, already weakened by financial problems, Israeli restrictions, and internal corruption, has little power to stop the changes.

Ultimately, these new measures raise serious questions about the future of the two-state solution. Many Western governments continue to describe it as the only viable path to peace. However, as Israeli settlements expand and Palestinian territory becomes more fragmented, the practical possibility of a sovereign Palestinian state appears to be shrinking.

The gap between international rhetoric and political reality is growing wider. Israel continues to consolidate control on the ground, while its allies express concern but avoid decisive action. Unless there is a major shift in international policy, these latest measures may become another step toward a permanent one-state reality — one defined not by equal rights, but by unequal control.