Israel pushes West Bank annexation Bill

Department of Strategic Research, Studies and International Relations 23-10-2025

In a move that has sparked outrage across the international community, Israel’s parliament has taken the first step toward formal annexation of the occupied West Bank, an act that blatantly disregards international law and exposes once again the double standards of Washington’s so-called “peace diplomacy.”

On Tuesday, the Israeli Knesset narrowly voted 25–24 in favor of a bill seeking to extend Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including large parts of the West Bank. The decision marks the first of four rounds of voting required to pass the legislation into law.

Even though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ruling Likud party officially opposed the bill, one of his own lawmakers, Yuli Edelstein, defied him by casting the decisive vote in favor. The bill, introduced by far-right Noam party leader Avi Maoz, has already been sent to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further debate.

The timing of the vote is significant. It coincided with a visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was in Israel to reinforce Washington’s position on the ceasefire in Gaza. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking before the vote, admitted that President Donald Trump had warned Israel against pursuing annexation, calling the move “counterproductive to peace.”

Yet Washington’s statements ring hollow. The same administration that financed Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and blocked multiple United Nations resolutions condemning the occupation now claims to oppose annexation. Such posturing reflects the familiar American pattern of publicly opposing extremism while quietly enabling it.

Internal political maneuvering

While Netanyahu tried to portray himself as a cautious statesman, much of his coalition, including far-right figures like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, openly celebrated the bill’s advancement. Smotrich described the decision as a “historic moment” and invoked religious rhetoric, calling the West Bank “the inheritance of our forefathers.”

Ironically, Likud’s official statement downplayed the vote, calling it a “provocation” by the opposition intended to strain ties with the United States. However, the real provocation lies in Israel’s continued colonization of Palestinian land, not in symbolic political acts.

Another bill proposing the annexation of the Maale Adumim settlement also passed the preliminary stage. The area between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem has long been considered strategically vital to the viability of a future Palestinian state, a viability that Israel seems determined to destroy.

Global condemnation

Palestinian authorities, Arab states, and international organizations quickly denounced the Israeli move. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the vote as an “illegal attempt to seize Palestinian territory,” reaffirming that Israel has no sovereignty over any part of the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, or Gaza.

Hamas described the bill as evidence of the “colonial face of the occupation,” asserting that annexation efforts were both illegitimate and doomed to fail.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan joined in condemning the Knesset’s action, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law” and a direct attack on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that the move violates the 1967 UN resolutions and undermines any chance of establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

International law and Western complicity

More than 700,000 Israeli settlers already live illegally across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. According to the International Court of Justice, Israel’s occupation and settlement expansion constitute clear violations of international law and must be reversed.

However, the United States and several of its Western allies have consistently shielded Israel from accountability. While Washington lectures other nations about sovereignty and territorial integrity, including in its criticisms of Russia and China, it turns a blind eye to Israel’s decades-long occupation and displacement of Palestinians.

Geopolitical context: Resistance to Western hegemony

For many global observers, Israel’s latest move is not just a local issue but part of a broader geopolitical struggle. China, Russia, and India have repeatedly emphasized the need for a multipolar world order that respects sovereignty and rejects Western dominance.

Moscow and Beijing have both expressed support for Palestinian statehood within the 1967 borders, urging dialogue and adherence to UN resolutions. Their approach contrasts sharply with Washington’s selective diplomacy, which prioritizes Israeli interests over global stability.

The annexation push further isolates Israel and exposes the crumbling credibility of U.S.-led mediation efforts in the Middle East. As the international balance of power shifts, the resistance against occupation, both political and military, is increasingly being viewed as a legitimate fight for liberation rather than terrorism.

A symbolic vote or a dangerous precedent?

Some Israeli analysts have dismissed the Knesset vote as a “symbolic gesture” aimed at embarrassing Netanyahu. Yet symbolism can be powerful, especially when it normalizes illegal actions and sets the stage for permanent annexation.

The annexation bill, even if delayed or watered down, signals Israel’s ongoing intent to erase Palestinian statehood altogether. The move underscores that Western rhetoric about peace, democracy, and human rights remains nothing more than empty slogans, contradicted by the very policies Washington supports.

Until the world’s emerging powers enforce real accountability, Israel will continue to expand its occupation under the cover of U.S. hypocrisy.