ALBAWABA- In a razor-thin and highly divisive vote, Israel’s Knesset on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to two bills seeking to formally annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
The legislation, which passed 25–24 in the first of four required readings, would extend Israeli sovereignty over the entire West Bank under one bill and specifically over the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim under another, effectively incorporating the areas into Israel. The vote came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Israel, though officials said the timing was coincidental.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed the bills, warning of severe diplomatic repercussions and potential fallout with Washington. Most members of his Likud party abstained, but veteran lawmaker Yuli Edelstein defied the party line and cast the deciding vote in favor, a move that led to his removal from key parliamentary committees.
Edelstein later defended his decision, saying he was “proud to stand by [his] values,” highlighting growing fractures within the ruling coalition.
The proposals, introduced by far-right MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party, go beyond previous symbolic resolutions by paving the way for formal annexation, a step that would upend decades of international consensus supporting a two-state solution.
Palestinian leaders swiftly denounced the vote as an “illegal escalation” that deepens the occupation and violates international law. Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia joined the condemnation, warning that the move threatens regional stability and peace efforts. The European Union and United Nations reiterated that unilateral annexation contravenes the Fourth Geneva Convention and relevant UN resolutions.
