Israeli Parliament Advances Bills to Annex Occupied West Bank

Strategic Insights -

Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has passed two separate bills aimed at annexing the occupied West Bank, with the US administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government strongly opposing the move. The bills, which passed their preliminary readings despite opposition from Netanyahu's Likud party, would grant Israeli sovereignty to the Maale Adumim settlement and all illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The US has made it clear that it will prevent the annexation of the West Bank, cutting off support for Israel if necessary.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Knesset voted on two separate bills to annex the occupied West Bank, with one bill passing 32-9 and the other passing 25-24.
  • The bills, which passed their preliminary readings, would grant Israeli sovereignty to the Maale Adumim settlement and all illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
  • The US administration, led by President Donald Trump, has strongly opposed the move, with Trump stating that he will prevent the annexation of the West Bank.
  • Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party has also opposed the bills, with only one MK voting in favor of the measure.
  • Netanyahu's coalition partners, including Religious Zionist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, supported the bills.
  • The bills will now be referred to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further consideration and must pass three additional readings before they can become law.

Statistics:

  • There are currently about 700,000 Israeli settlers living in 250 illegal settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem combined (Al Jazeera).
  • About half a million of these settlers are in the West Bank (Al Jazeera).
  • The US has invested significant political capital in a ceasefire deal in Gaza and is concerned that Netanyahu may be looking for an excuse to break (The New York Times).

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera
  • Al Jazeera
  • Al Jazeera
  • The New York Times
  • Haaretz
  • Time