Israeli Lawmakers Push Forward Annexation Bills Despite US Opposition

Israeli lawmakers voted on October 22, 2023, to advance two controversial bills aimed at annexing parts of the occupied West Bank. This decision, driven by far-right ministers, comes in direct opposition to the United States, where Vice President JD Vance is currently visiting to support a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

During preliminary voting, lawmakers approved a bill proposing the annexation of Maale Adumim, a large settlement east of Jerusalem with a population of approximately 40,000 Israelis. The second bill, which seeks to annex the entire West Bank, passed by a narrow margin of 25 votes to 24. The push for annexation aligns with statements from far-right members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet who advocate for extending Israeli sovereignty over the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

In a statement reported by Israeli media, the ruling Likud party indicated that Netanyahu had instructed its members to abstain from voting. Likud characterized the measures as “another provocation by the opposition aimed at damaging our relations with the United States.” The party emphasized that true sovereignty should be achieved through substantive actions rather than symbolic legislation.

International Reactions and Concerns

The Palestinian foreign ministry in Ramallah condemned the votes, labeling them as an “attempt to annex Palestinian land” and asserting that Israel lacks sovereignty over the occupied territories. In a statement reported by the official Wafa news agency, the ministry declared, “The occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip constitute a single geographic unit over which Israel has no sovereignty.”

Jordan’s foreign ministry echoed these sentiments, describing the Knesset’s decision as “a blatant violation of international law and a grave undermining of the two-state solution.” All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law, further complicating the conflict.

Ongoing Settlement Expansion

The vote comes on the heels of Israel’s approval of a significant settlement project in August, linking Maale Adumim to Jerusalem. This development has raised alarms within the international community, which warns that such actions could jeopardize the feasibility of a future Palestinian state.

At a signing ceremony in Maale Adumim in September, Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, stating, “We are going to fulfil our promise that there will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us.” The West Bank, excluding the Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, is home to about three million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israeli settlers.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated in October 2023, has also seen a surge in violence across the West Bank, further straining security and diplomatic efforts in the region. As tensions rise, the implications of these legislative moves could have lasting effects on the already fragile situation between Israel and Palestine.