{"id":2470693,"date":"2025-08-04T16:27:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T20:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnson-visits-west-bank-as-israeli-officials-push-to-annex-region\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T16:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T20:27:59","slug":"johnson-visits-west-bank-as-israeli-officials-push-to-annex-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnson-visits-west-bank-as-israeli-officials-push-to-annex-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Johnson visits West Bank as Israeli officials push to annex region"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjohnson-visits-west-bank-as-israeli-officials-push-to-annex-region%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2470693&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) made a private visit to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, specifically to Ariel Municipality, amid Israeli goverment efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taiwan-deserves-better-than-a-joe-biden-presidency\/\" title=\"Taiwan Deserves Better Than A Joe Biden Presidency\">fully annex<\/a> the Palestinian territory. Johnson is the highest-ranking U.S. official to speak at one of these settlements. His <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >visit reflects growing<\/a> U.S. support for Israel&#8217;s claims over the region, with some senior U.S. officials signaling a departure from advocating for a Palestinian state. Israeli ministers Yariv Levin and Israel Katz, close allies of Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu, have emphasized the current political moment as an &#8220;possibility&#8221; to extend Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, also known by the biblical names Judea and Samaria. This potential annexation is controversial and likely to provoke international criticism, especially from Western countries that are increasingly recognizing Palestinian statehood in response to ongoing conflicts and humanitarian concerns in Gaza.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mike Johnson visits West Bank settlements as Israeli officials push to annex region fully<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2196790\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Speaker of the House <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-LA) made a private trip to settlements in the West Bank as Israeli leaders push for a full annexation of the Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Johnson became the highest-ranking U.S. official to speak at the Ariel Municipality, one of the largest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/3424860\/israel-west-bank-settlements-undermine-us-interests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">illegal settlements<\/a> in the region.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3490278\/israeli-government-fire-gali-baharav-miara-netanyahu-trial\/\">Israeli government votes to fire attorney general prosecuting Netanyahu in corruption trial<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3490406\/fema-israel-deny-federal-funding-states-boycott-companies-bds-movement\/\">FEMA to deny federal funding to states that cut contracts with Israeli companies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3489883\/hamas-permit-aid-israeli-hostages-condition-halt-airstrikes\/\">Hamas claims it will permit aid for hostages on condition Israel halts airstrikes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The gesture of support comes as Israeli Cabinet members are calling for the government to seize the &ldquo;moment of opportunity&rdquo; and take full control of the region from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/palestinian-authority\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Palestinian Authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Senior U.S. officials in charge of relations with Israel have already signaled a changing platform regarding the possibility of Israel outright annexing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/west-bank\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">West Bank<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In June, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that the United States is no longer interested in the prospect of a Palestinian state.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-06-10\/us-holds-deep-doubts-about-palestinian-state-ambassador-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">there&rsquo;s no room for it<\/a>,&rdquo; he told <em>Bloomberg<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding where the millions of Palestinians native to the West Bank will live, Huckabee asked, &ldquo;Does it have to be in Judea and Samaria?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Judea and Samaria, a Biblical name, is what Israel calls the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/west-bank\/\" target=\"_blank\">West Bank<\/a>, the larger enclave of the Palestinian territories on the Western bank of the Jordan River, and home to approximately 3 million ethnic Palestinians.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Republicans Overseas Israel Chairman Marc Zell, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jta.org\/2016\/08\/05\/politics\/donald-trump-supporters-launch-push-for-american-swing-state-votes-in-israel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">lives in the Israeli settlement of Tekoa<\/a> in the West Bank, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GOPIsrael\/status\/1952324727583678953\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">claimed<\/a> on Monday that Johnson used similar Biblical terminology when visiting Ariel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Speaker Mike Johnson says that the mountains of Judea and Samaria are the rightful property of the Jewish People,&rdquo; Zell wrote on social media about Johnson&rsquo;s remarks at the settlement. &ldquo;He criticizes those erstwhile allies of Israel who are calling to recognize a Palestinian state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Zell&rsquo;s summary of Johnson&rsquo;s remarks was not official. The actual text and content of Johnson&rsquo;s speech have not yet been released.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Speaker Mike Johnson, now addressing the conference in Ariel, is the highest ranking U.S. federal official to visit Judea and Samaria.  Amazing! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qNeu1yFwCI\">pic.twitter.com\/qNeu1yFwCI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Marc Zell (@GOPIsrael) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GOPIsrael\/status\/1952321614642631025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Certain Israeli officials&rsquo; intentions for the West Bank are becoming increasingly clear.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defense Minister Israel Katz, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-israel-and-hamas-agree-to-ceasefire-proposal-brokered-by-egypt\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Israel And Hamas Agree To Ceasefire; Proposal Brokered By Egypt\">close political allies<\/a> of Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Benjamin-Netanyahu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>, issued a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/liveblog_entry\/top-ministers-levin-katz-declare-time-now-ripe-to-annex-west-bank\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">joint statement to Israeli media<\/a>&nbsp;last week emphasizing that the current political climate presents an &ldquo;opportunity&rdquo; to take control of the Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Ministers Katz and Levin have been working for many years to implement Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. At this very moment, there is a moment of opportunity that must not be missed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This was expressed, among other things, in the work done by Minister Levin during President [Donald] Trump&rsquo;s first term, in which all the necessary things were prepared for the important move &ndash; from a proposal for resolutions to precise maps, and Defense Minister Katz led a series of unprecedented decisions to strengthen settlement and pave the way for Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,&rdquo;&nbsp;the statement continued.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3487402\/israel-defense-justice-ministers-full-annexation-west-bank\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ISRAELI DEFENSE AND JUSTICE MINISTERS PUSH FOR FULL ANNEXATION OF WEST BANK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The statement was framed as a reply to a Channel 14 report that the two ministers were not preparing for such an annexation, which they called &ldquo;false.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Such an unprecedented move would almost certainly generate an international uproar as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3481545\/emmanuel-macron-france-recognize-palestinian-state\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">various Western allies of Israel<\/a> are already moving to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3485037\/uk-recognize-palestinian-state-israel-end-gaza-conflict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">recognize a sovereign Palestinian state<\/a> in response to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3487016\/carney-canada-recognize-palestinian-state-despite-us-opposition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">starvation in the Gaza Strip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2196790\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2196790\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Johnson visits West Bank amid Israeli annexation push<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2470694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25189584262134-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[58464,4162,40331],"class_list":["post-2470693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-israeli-officials","tag-johnson","tag-west-bank"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25189584262134-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470693"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2470697,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470693\/revisions\/2470697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2470694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2470693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2470693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}