TEL AVIV — Members of Israel’s hard-line government are ecstatic about the appointments announced so far by US President-elect Donald Trump, believing they augur support for the annexation of settlements and a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. 

Based on statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Trump’s electoral victory, he is euphoric over what he thinks is a guarantee of his continued hold on power.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich summed up the collective glee surrounding Trump’s victory when he told members of his Religious Zionism party this week, "Twenty twenty-five will be the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria." Smotrich praised US voters’ selection, insulted President Joe Biden’s administration and urged the Israeli government to take advantage of the historic opportunity and annex the occupied West Bank. 

"Last time," Smotrich said, "we were a step away from applying sovereignty to settlement in Judea and Samaria," referring to the Abraham Accords (2002), orchestrated by Trump between Israel and several Arab states, which initially appeared to include US approval for settlement annexation. The Trump administration quickly backed away from the inflammatory idea, but that did not stop settlement activists from preparing annexation plans, including access roads.