Tel Aviv [Israel], October 23 (ANI): Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday condemned the Knesset vote on annexing the West Bank, calling it a “deliberate political provocation” by opposition members aimed at “sowing discord” during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit.
The PMO clarified that the two bills were sponsored by opposition lawmakers. “The Likud party and the religious parties (the principal coalition members) did not vote for these bills, except for one disgruntled Likud member who was recently removed from the chairmanship of a Knesset committee. Without Likud support, these bills are unlikely to go anywhere,” the statement read.
The issue arises after US President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, leading to the release of hostages earlier this month. However, the status of the West Bank remains unresolved. Trump has repeatedly stated that Israel will not annex the West Bank. In a recent interview with Time magazine, he said he had assured Arab countries that the US would withdraw support if annexation occurred. “It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened,” Trump said.
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters at Tel Aviv’s airport before departing, called the Knesset vote a “very stupid political stunt” and said he personally took it as an insult. “The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel,” he emphasized. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the move, warning that unilateral annexation could threaten Washington’s plan to maintain the fragile Gaza ceasefire.
The bill passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset with a 25-24 vote. It now moves to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee and must pass three additional readings to become law. Its future is uncertain, as the ruling coalition does not support it, and Prime Minister Netanyahu can delay or block the legislation.
Palestinian authorities condemned the vote, reiterating that Israel has no sovereignty over the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and claimed by Palestinians for a future independent state. The International Court of Justice has previously declared Israel’s occupation of the West Bank illegal under international law.
The vote coincided with US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to support the Gaza ceasefire and oversee US-led stabilization efforts. During his visit, Vance inaugurated a civilian-military coordination center in southern Israel, where approximately 200 US troops are working alongside the Israeli military. (ANI)
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