In international law , annexation is defined as the forcible acquisition of one state's territory by another state . This is often done after military occupation . Annexation occurs regardless of the people living there's preferences . It is generally held to be an illegal act under international law. Examples include Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Iraq's brief annexation of Kuwait in 1980. In both cases, Western countries including the U.S. and E.U. imposed sanctions.

Israel constantly builds new homes and offers financial incentives for Israelis to live in the West Bank Settlements have been intentionally established to give the Israeli military a reason to be present in the area They are strategically located in a scattered manner to hinder Palestinians ' ability to create a contiguous state .