West Bank U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed strong opposition to Israel’s recent move toward annexing the, stating that such actions could jeopardize efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Rubio’s remarks came just before he left for Israel to help secure a fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. He made it clear that the United States could not support Israel’s parliament advancing a bill aimed at annexing the West Bank, a territory Israel has occupied since 1967. The Israeli parliament, in a controversial move, granted preliminary approval to a bill that would allow Israel to formally annex parts of the West Bank. The bill was largely pushed by far-right politicians within the Israeli government who have been calling for greater control over the West Bank, a move that would fundamentally alter the region’s political landscape. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, after wrapping up his visit to Israel, dismissed the Israeli move as a political stunt, saying it was a very stupid political stunt and personally insulting. Vance reiterated the Trump administration’s stance that Israel would not annex the West Bank. He emphasized that the U.S. policy would not change and that the administration would continue to oppose any efforts to annex the region.
U.S. Warns Against Israel’s West Bank Annexation Plans Amid Gaza Peace Efforts
The Palestinians have long claimed the West Bank as part of their future independent state. International law, including a ruling by the International Court of Justice, views Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as illegal. This has made the issue of annexation particularly sensitive on the global stage, especially as Israel seeks to normalize relations with Arab nations.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously expressed support for annexing parts of the West Bank, but has refrained from taking action out of concern for damaging relations with the U.S. and Arab countries, some of which have recently forged diplomatic ties with Israel. However, Israel’s ultra-nationalists, particularly in Netanyahu’s coalition, have been relentless in pushing for the annexation of the West Bank, which they see as a historic reclamation of Jewish land.The bill, which passed by a narrow margin of 25-24 votes, has yet to gain full support in Israel’s 120-seat parliament. It will now be reviewed by the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee and would need to pass additional readings before becoming law. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has already condemned the move, stating that Israel would have no sovereignty over Palestinian land. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to oppose the annexation, with Rubio warning that such actions would be counterproductive and would threaten the peace process, particularly the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The situation in Gaza remains precarious, as both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Despite the ongoing challenges, there is some optimism that the first phase of the ceasefire has held, with U.S. officials, including Rubio, continuing to push for a second phase that would involve setting up an interim government in Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. As the situation in Gaza unfolds, the future of the West Bank remains uncertain, with annexation still a looming possibility depending on the political dynamics within Israel and the broader international response.
