On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced the reinforcement of its forces in the Jordan Valley, the strategic area in the occupied West Bank, before the imminent announcement of US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan known as the "Deal of the Century".
"In the wake of the Israeli army's continuous assessment of the situation, it was decided to reinforce the Jordan Valley area with infantry forces," the army said in a statement, while Israeli media reported that the US plan might include annexing this area by Israel.
In September, Netanyahu announced his intention to annex the Jordan Valley, which represents about a third of the occupied West Bank, if he is re-elected.
Netanyahu is now calling for a session to be held this week to legislate and approve the Jordan Valley in the Israeli Knesset.
In December, Netanyahu declared, "The time has come to implement Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and to legalize all the settlements in Judea and Samaria in the settlement blocs and those outside it," using biblical terms for the West Bank.
He added, "It will be part of Israel."
Most of the Jordan Valley is located in Area C of the occupied West Bank, of which Israel effectively controls sixty percent.
Netanyahu has said that his annexation plan will not include Palestinian cities like Jericho in the Jordan Valley, even though it is surrounded by lands under Israeli control.
"I want the American recognition of our sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, it is important," he added, noting that he recently discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo without presenting a formal plan.
Pompeo declared last month that the United States no longer considered settlements in the West Bank illegal.
More than 400,000 Israelis live in settlements built on the lands of the nearly three million Palestinians.
Israel occupied the West Bank in June 1967 in a move that was not recognized by the international community.