Israeli Knesset Votes to Annex West Bank 

By Suha Abrahim

On Tuesday night, the Knesset voted on two separate bills, one to annex the Maale Adumim settlement and to apply Israeli sovereignty to all illegally occupied West Bank settlements. Both bills passed the preliminary reading, the former 32-9 and the latter 25-24. Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party boycotted the votes, with the only supporter from the Likud party being removed from his seat in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. While this move supports the notion of a “Greater Israel”, Netanyahu declared the “ move was aimed at damaging our relations with the United States”. 

President Donald Trump has stated he will prevent the annexation of the West Bank, and if necessary, will cut off support for Israel. He added, “I gave my word to the Arab countries”. Vice President JD Vance criticized the move, saying, “If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult.” 

The West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. Illegal under international law, over half a million Israeli settlers are living in 279 illegal settlements on land in the West Bank. One hundred forty-seven of these settlements are outposts, which are also prohibited under Israeli law.