Rebuttal to ‘The Unbearable Price Israel Would Pay for Annexation’

The Times of Israel’s op-ed last week warning of the “unbearable price” Israel would pay for annexing Judea and Samaria fails to address the core truth about the Palestinian Authority (PA). 

The author’s arguments begin to weaken right away as soon as they express concern about the collapse of the PA. The Palestinian Authority is a regime that glorifies terrorists, rewards murderers with salaries, and indoctrinates children to hate and kill Jews. Are we honestly expected to believe that maintaining a terrorist-supporting entity in our midst is necessary for Israel’s survival or moral integrity?

Since the October 7 massacre that changed our regional reality, it is undeniable that Arab self-rule within our borders within the context of a two-state solution is more than a failed experiment. It is a dangerous fantasy. The PA may use softer rhetoric than Hamas, but its goals are identical: the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews. We cannot forget that PA leader Jibril Rajoub’s celebrated the October 7 massacre, loudly and publicly, saying that “many October 7s” will also occur in Judea and Samaria.

Just as Hamas exploited Gaza’s governance to terrorize southern Israel, the PA uses its control over Judea and Samaria to plot against the Jewish state on a daily basis. The only solution is for Israel to take complete control of these territories. The fall of the PA is not a threat—it is a necessity for Israel’s survival and the safety of its people.

The demise of the PA is not a pitfall to annexation; it is a necessary component. Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant opposed Israeli military oversight in Gaza, including direct control over food distribution. His alternative plans left Hamas in control of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, which we saw (and sadly still see) prolonged their dominance. This faulty policy was one of the reasons he was removed. Israel’s government is now addressing this failure by ensuring that the IDF, not Hamas, determines Gaza’s civilian affairs. Similarly, local infrastructure can not be run in Judea and Samaria by a terror-supporting and promoting PA. Only an Israeli oversight can provide true safety and stability.

The author’s claim that annexation would cause insurmountable financial hardship is also misleading. Under Israeli sovereignty, we would have the ability to distinguish between those Arabs who wish to live peacefully and those who support terror. The former could thrive, while the latter would face consequences: imprisonment, incentivized emigration, or deportation for terror supporters. And if there are legal hurdles to overcome, then we overcome them. The preservation of our lives and our country supersedes legal obstacles that can be overcome.

Even if extending Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria would bring financial costs, I would choose the burden of ensuring Israel’s security over the delusion of coexistence with an enemy committed to our destruction. Ignoring the genocidal aspirations of the PA to avoid economic challenges is moral and strategic folly.

Sovereignty would bring challenges, but with proper implementation, it would ensure a future rooted in security and truth rather than in continuous terror due to Israeli denial and appeasement.

The core question is not whether annexation poses challenges—it undoubtedly does. Rather, are we willing to continue living under the false premise that the Palestinian national movement seeks peace? What have we learned from what was said and done on October 7th? Do we believe what Palestinian nationalists have been saying, often, out loud? It will never relinquish its aim of destroying Israel.

I choose sovereignty, safety, and facing the truth over false hopes of peace with an enemy that glorifies murder and celebrates our tragedies. The price we have paid for such denial of ugly truths has been far too high.

For Israel to thrive, we must take control of Judea and Samaria and embrace the reality of our situation rather than cling to illusions that endanger our future.