Israel’s parliament has taken a significant step towards imposing its sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, a move that is effectively recognized as annexation of Palestinian territory and represents a clear violation of international law.
In a closely contested decision, Israeli lawmakers in the Knesset voted 25-24 on Tuesday to advance the bill, despite resistance from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party. This marks the first of four necessary votes required to enact the legislation.
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A statement from the Knesset explained that the bill aims to assert Israeli sovereignty over the areas referred to as Judea and Samaria (West Bank). It will now proceed to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for further examination.
This vote occurred shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump declared he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank, coinciding with U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel to reinforce the ceasefire in Gaza.
The Likud party characterized the vote as an “opposition provocation” that risks damaging relations with the U.S. They emphasized that true sovereignty will be achieved not through legislative gestures but through effective actions on the ground.
Key Vote from a Likud Member
Notably, some members of Netanyahu’s coalition, including those from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism faction, supported the bill. Smotrich emphasized the need for full sovereignty over the territories, referring to them as an ancestral inheritance.
The bill was introduced by Avi Maoz, leader of the far-right Noam Party, which is not part of the governing coalition. Most Likud members abstained from voting, but Yuli Edelstein defied Netanyahu and cast the crucial vote in favor.
Strong Condemnation from International Entities
The decisions have been met with immediate disapproval from various entities including the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Hamas, and several Arab nations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the bill, asserting that the territories in question do not fall under Israeli sovereignty.
Hamas termed the votes as a reflection of the oppressive occupation, while Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry described them as an affront to Palestinian rights and a challenge to international law.
All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law, with over 700,000 Israelis living in these settlements. The United Nations has affirmed that Israel’s occupation and its settlement policies contravene international regulations.
Political analysts perceive the recent vote as primarily symbolic, illustrating the Knesset’s broader response to the Gaza ceasefire negotiations imposed by the U.S. and regional powers.
