Netanyahu Pledges to Annex Much of West Bank if Re-Elected

The Primary: Israel’s Prime Minister, Ben Netanyahu, announced that if re-elected, he will annex much of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley and portions of land north of the Dead Sea.

• Who? What? Why?: According to Axios, most of the international community views the West bank as belonging to the Palestinian state. The move to annex it, while previously discussed, has not been set in stone and many believe the commitment is an effort from Netanyahu to appeal to his base in a tough upcoming election.

• The Baseline: The Trump administration has reportedly been working on a peace deal between Palestine and Netanyahu says he would like Trump’s approval before moving forward with annexation. However, it is believed that the move will certainly complicate whatever deal was in place.