**Tel Aviv, October 23,
Tel Aviv, October 23, 2025 — United States Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized the Israeli parliament’s preliminary vote to apply Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, describing it as a “stupid political stunt” and confirming that President Donald Trump would not support any annexation of the territory.
Vance’s remarks came during a press briefing at Ben Gurion Airport at the end of his two-day visit to Israel, where he reiterated the Trump administration’s opposition to any unilateral Israeli moves that could undermine the fragile truce in Gaza.
“If it was a political stunt, it is a very stupid one, and I personally take some insult to it,” Vance told reporters. “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of President Trump is that the West Bank will not be annexed. This will always be our policy.”
Israeli Parliament’s Annexation Vote
On Wednesday, the Knesset passed a preliminary reading of a bill to apply Israeli civil law to the West Bank, an action tantamount to annexation. The measure, proposed by Avi Maoz, leader of the far-right Noam Party, received 25 votes in favor and 24 against out of 120 lawmakers.
The bill was supported by ultranationalist ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both long-time advocates of expanding Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territories.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party abstained from the vote, calling it a “deliberate political provocation.” In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the move sought to “sow division” during Vice President Vance’s visit and would not move forward without the coalition’s backing.
Observers noted that while formal annexation remains unlikely, de facto annexation continues through the steady expansion of Israeli settlements across the West Bank.
Trump and Rubio Warn Against Annexation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Vance’s warning, stating that unilateral annexation could endanger the Trump administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, which aims to rebuild Gaza and create conditions for eventual Palestinian statehood.
Trump himself later reaffirmed the U.S. position, saying:
“Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank. Don’t worry about the West Bank.”
The plan, backed by key regional players including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, seeks to maintain the current 13-day truce between Israel and Hamas and prevent further escalation in the region.
International Condemnation
Wednesday’s Knesset vote drew immediate condemnation from across the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Indonesia, and 13 other Muslim-majority nations, along with the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), denounced the move as a violation of international law.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, is illegal and called for the withdrawal of all settlements.
Currently, more than 700,000 Israeli settlers live in these occupied areas, where settler violence against Palestinians has surged dramatically. According to UN data, the first half of 2025 saw 757 settler attacks, marking a 13% increase from the previous year.
Rights groups accuse the Israeli army of protecting settlers and failing to intervene in violent assaults, which have resulted in the displacement of thousands of Palestinians.
Escalating Violence and Humanitarian Crisis
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the United Nations. In the West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since the same period.
Military incursions in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps have intensified, with mass arrests and home demolitions causing widespread displacement.
The violence underscores what analysts describe as Israel’s creeping annexation policy, using settlement expansion and military control to entrench dominance over Palestinian territories.
Regional and Political Context
The annexation debate has emerged amid rising pressure on Israel from Western allies. Several European nations have recognized Palestinian statehood, urging Israel to end its military campaign and commit to a two-state solution.
However, Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly rejected such calls, insisting that any Palestinian state would pose a security threat.
Vice President Vance’s visit—alongside senior Trump advisers, including Jared Kushner—was aimed at bolstering the Gaza truce and reaffirming U.S. influence in Israeli policy-making. Yet, the annexation vote risks straining ties between Washington and Tel Aviv at a delicate diplomatic moment.
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