Knesset narrowly advances West Bank sovereignty bill

Israel’s Knesset voted 25–24 to give preliminary approval to a bill applying Israeli sovereignty to the occupied West Bank, advancing move tantamount to annexation despite opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud. The measure now goes to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, as US Vice President JD Vance visited Israel to bolster a Gaza ceasefire. Likud called the vote a provocation aimed at damaging relations with the United States. A separate bill to annex Maale Adumim also advanced. Palestinian officials, Hamas, Qatar and Jordan condemned the votes as violations of international law; an analyst called them rhetorical.

Reviewed by JQJO team

#israel #westbank #annexation #parliament #law