Most Israelis think their government’s plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank will spark a Palestinian uprising but around half favour going ahead anyway, a poll showed on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to take steps towards annexation as soon as July 1, despite widespread international condemnation.

The move forms part of a broader peace plan published by the US, although Washington has not publicly backed Netanyahu’s timetable.

Fifty per cent of Israelis support annexation, half of them only with US support, according to a new poll published by the Israel Democracy Institute.

Nearly 31 per cent oppose annexation, while the remainder were undecided.

Despite the majority voicing support for Netanyahu’s proposal, implementing his plan would very likely lead to an uprising, according to 58 per cent of Israelis surveyed.

The most recent Palestinian uprising, known as the Second Intifada, erupted in the early 2000s and included waves of suicide bombings and deadly Israeli responses.

On Monday, defence minister Benny Gantz ordered the army to speed up “military preparedness ahead of political steps on the agenda in the Palestinian arena”.

The latest poll, which surveyed 771 adults late last month, followed warnings by neighbour Jordan and other countries against annexation.

The UN on Sunday said the move would breach international law and “most likely trigger conflict and instability” in the Palestinian territories.

Annexation and the overall US peace deal have been firmly rejected by Palestinian officials, who cut diplomatic ties with Washington in 2017 after President Donald Trump recognised the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has on numerous occasions threatened to cut all security ties with Israel if annexation goes ahead while trying to rally the international community to the Palestinian cause.