Israel’s parliament has narrowly approved a bill in its first reading to annex the occupied West Bank, a move widely denounced as a violation of international law and a severe blow to the two-state solution.
The legislation passed by a single vote, despite opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party.
The preliminary vote in the 120-member Knesset passed 25–24 on Tuesday, moving the bill to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for further review.
The proposed legislation seeks to “apply Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied Palestinian territories, referred to in the bill as “Judea and Samaria.”
The controversial move came amid a visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Israel, coinciding with Washington’s push to uphold the Gaza ceasefire.
US and global reaction
The vote directly contradicts the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently said he would not support Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s opposition, saying such a move “threatens peace efforts” and could undermine Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s Likud party described the bill as “another provocation by the opposition aimed at damaging relations with the United States.”
Despite Netanyahu’s objections, members of his coalition — including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism faction — supported the annexation bill.
Smotrich hailed the move as a “historic step” toward asserting full sovereignty over the territory. Meanwhile, Yuli Edelstein, a Likud lawmaker, defied Netanyahu and cast the deciding vote in favor of the bill, saying, “Israeli sovereignty throughout our homeland is the order of the day.”
A separate annexation bill for the Maale Adumim settlement also passed its preliminary reading.
Regional and international condemnation
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the vote as “a blatant violation of international law,” reiterating that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territories. Hamas called the move proof of Israel’s “colonial ambitions,” while Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan issued strong condemnations.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry expressed its “complete rejection of all settlement and expansionist violations,” while Jordan warned the annexation effort undermines “the two-state solution and Palestinians’ right to self-determination.”
UN and legal background
More than 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The UN’s top court ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation and settlements in Palestinian territories are illegal and should be ended immediately.
Annexation of the West Bank would formally end any realistic path to a two-state solution — a principle enshrined in UN resolutions and long supported by much of the international community.
Israeli analyst Ori Goldberg described the bill as “a performative pushback” against Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza ceasefire, saying it serves more as political symbolism than policy.
He noted that the move reflects internal divisions within the Knesset and frustration among right-wing factions over perceived U.S. interference in Israeli decisions.
