Lorenzo Tondo Jerusalem
Thu 23 Oct 2025 05.31 EDT

Although the bill still requires several rounds of approval to become law, its preliminary passage has embarrassed Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier urged lawmakers to delay its presentation during US vice-president JD Vance’s visit – an effort to preserve the fragile Gaza ceasefire. Washington has repeatedly said that any annexation of the West Bank would cross a red line.

“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” Donald Trump told reporters at the White House in September. “It’s not going to happen.”

“I think the president’s made clear that’s not something we can be supportive of right now,” Rubio said of annexation as he boarded his plane for a visit to Israel.

Vance says Knesset votes on annexing West Bank are an ‘insult’ as Netanyahu halts progress

US vice-president suggests votes were ‘stupid political stunt’ as Israeli PM orders a stop to any further work on bills

^{Lorenzo Tondo (The Guardian)}