"Israel, Biblical Rights in the West Bank"...U.S. Agrees With Israel's West Bank Merger?

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Elise Sturpanic has publicly expressed her position in her confirmation hearing that she agrees with the Israeli far-right's claim of "merging the West Bank."

According to the British daily Guardian on the 21st local time, Sturpanic responded to a question from Democratic Senator Chris Van Holen (Maryland) at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's confirmation hearing.Senator Van Holen
said, "The candidate told me that he agreed with the view of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir that Israel has 'bible rights' in the West Bank. When asked if the idea remains the same now, Sturpanic said, "Yes."

Under international law, the West Bank is a region where the Palestinian Authority (PA) has executive power, but Israel is sending troops and settlers despite international criticism.

There have been constant calls from far-right forces to merge into Israeli territory, saying they have biblical and historical rights to the West Bank.

After U.S. President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Israelis who used violence against Palestinians in the West Bank through an executive order on his first day in office, the U.N. ambassador candidate's statement is expected to raise the voices of far-right figures in Israel.

Israel attacked Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank, a day after President Trump's executive order was issued.

At least nine Palestinians were killed.

The West Bank is a place where the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement does not work.

Sturpanic further criticized the United Nations for becoming an "anti-Semitic den."

"Our taxes should not be used to support groups that are contrary to U.S. interests or that are anti-Semitic, or those involved in fraud, corruption or terrorism," he said.

The Guardian analyzed that Sturpanic's position is in line with the withdrawal of the first Trump administration from the UN Human Rights Council and UNESCO (UNESCO).

The United States is currently the largest sponsor responsible for about 22% of the United Nations budget.

China followed with 15.25% and Japan with 8%.