Knesset Vote on West Bank Annexation Draws Criticism

US Vice President JD Vance meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Knesset Vote on West Bank Annexation Draws Criticism

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | October 24, 2025

JERUSALEM – A symbolic vote in the Israeli Knesset to extend Israeli law to the occupied West Bank has sparked condemnation from key US figures, raising concerns about the future of peace efforts in the region.

The preliminary approval of the bill, championed by far-right politicians, has been labeled a “political stunt” and a threat to President Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

US Vice President JD Vance, concluding a trip to Israel, did not mince words, calling the move a “very stupid political stunt.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed these concerns, warning that annexation would undermine Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict.

Their remarks underscore the US’s continued opposition to any unilateral actions that could jeopardize the prospects for a two-state solution.

The bill, which passed with a narrow 25-24 vote, is unlikely to advance without the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.

Netanyahu’s office issued a statement emphasizing that Likud did not support the bill, dismissing it as a “deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord.”

Despite the bill’s uncertain future, the international community remains wary.

The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the Knesset’s move, asserting that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land.

The West Bank, home to approximately 3.3 million Palestinians living alongside 700,000 Jewish settlers, is considered occupied territory under international law, a position supported by the International Court of Justice.

The timing of the vote coincides with a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at advancing Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

Vance, Rubio, and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have all visited the region to push for talks on the plan’s second phase.

This phase envisions an interim government in Gaza, an international stabilization force, and the disarmament of Hamas.

While both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the initial ceasefire agreement, Rubio expressed optimism about its sustainability.

However, the Knesset vote has introduced a new element of uncertainty into an already fragile situation.

The war in Gaza, triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with over 68,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The US remains committed to its policy of opposing annexation, with President Trump stating that Israel would “lose all of its support from the United States” if it were to proceed.

The future of the West Bank and the prospects for a lasting peace remain uncertain as the region navigates a complex web of political and diplomatic challenges.