Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted to advance two proposed payments that decision for the formal annexation of the already Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, an ambition overtly promoted by far-right ministers in current months however opposed by President Trump.
The vote by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, got here with Vice President JD Vance visiting Israel to shore up the Gaza ceasefire that was brokered by Mr. Trump’s administration. The president has made clear he wouldn’t again annexation of the West Financial institution.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” Mr. Trump informed reporters on the White Home in September. “It’s not going to happen.”
Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had known as on lawmakers from his Likud occasion to abstain from voting. In an announcement, the occasion known as the votes “another provocation by the opposition aimed at damaging our relations with the United States.”
“True sovereignty will be achieved not through a showy law for the record, but through proper work on the ground,” it added.
Throughout a preliminary studying on Wednesday, lawmakers voted in favor of analyzing two payments, which suggests they are going to be introduced ahead for additional readings within the Knesset. The primary textual content, handed by a vote of 32-9, proposed annexing Maale Adumim, a big Israeli settlement residence to some 40,000 folks simply east of Jerusalem.
The second proposal to annex the complete West Financial institution was supported by 25 members, whereas 24 voted towards. Nearly all of the lawmakers from Netanyahu’s Likud occasion boycotted the vote, with one voting in assist of the measure, based on Israeli media. The Knesset has 120 members in whole.
Israeli flags fly above olive bushes within the village of Hawara, within the Masafer Yatta space, south of Hebron, West Financial institution, on Oct. 7, 2025.
Mosab Shawer/Center East Pictures/AFP through Getty Pictures
Far-right members of Netanyahu’s Cupboard have overtly known as for annexation of the West Financial institution, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
“Mr. Prime Minister. The Knesset has spoken. The people have spoken,” Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on social media.
“The time has come to impose full sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria — the inheritance of our ancestors — and to promote peace agreements in exchange for peace with our neighbors with strength,” he mentioned, utilizing the Israeli Biblical time period for the West Financial institution.
In an announcement, the Ramallah-based Palestinian international ministry condemned the Knesset’s vote, saying it “strongly rejects the Knesset’s attempts to annex Palestinian land.”
Jordan’s international ministry additionally mentioned it “strongly condemned” the votes, which it known as “a blatant violation of international law and a grave undermining of the two-state solution.”
All of Israel’s settlements within the West Financial institution are broadly thought-about unlawful below worldwide regulation, however Israel disputes that and Netanyahu’s authorities has supported their growth.
In August, Israel permitted a serious civilian settlement challenge between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem in an space of the disputed territory that the worldwide group has warned threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state.
At a signing ceremony for the challenge in September, Netanyahu vowed that there can be no Palestinian state. The 20-point Center East peace plan put ahead by the U.S. acknowledges that there could also be a “credible pathway” for Palestinian statehood after the Palestinian Authority, which has restricted autonomy in some elements of the West Financial institution, undergoes reforms.
“We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state, this place belongs to us,” Netanyahu mentioned on the occasion in Maale Adumim.
Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the West Financial institution is residence to round 3 million Palestinians, in addition to greater than 500,000 Israelis dwelling in settlements.
Because the conflict in Gaza started in October 2023, violence has additionally surged within the West Financial institution, with Palestinian residents describing escalating assaults by Israeli settlers. Some assaults on Israelis, by knife- or gun-wielding Palestinians, have originated from the territory.
Vance met with Netanyahu on Wednesday as the delicate ceasefire deal in Gaza continues to carry between Israel and Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the U.S.
“We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza to make life better for the people in Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel. That’s not easy,” Vance informed reporters. “There’s a lot of work to do, but I feel very optimistic about where we are.”
The Related Press
contributed to this report.
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