Despite US President Donald Trump's declaration that he rejects Israel's annexation of the occupied West Bank, Palestinians say that on the ground Israel is relentlessly taking over and an actual annexation announcement is only a matter of time. These permits will isolate these areas from the rest of the occupied West Bank, and they will also not be connected to Israel or Jerusalem. "There is a difference between strengthening settlements and officially announcing the annexation of the West Bank. However, after the international tsunami of recognition of the Palestinian state, the two-state solution has returned to the forefront," al-Awar added. Hebron firstAnother clear indicator of the practical steps toward Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank is the transformation of the city of Hebron into a separate "emirate".