The Israeli parliament’s vote on laws preparing for the annexation of the West Bank drew sharp criticism from several quarters on Thursday. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office called the move a deliberate provocation by the opposition, timed to coincide with JD Vance’s visit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Thursday condemned lawmakers’ vote on two bills that pave the way for the annexation of the West Bank. She called it a “deliberate political provocation” by the opposition during the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to Israel, TASR reports, according to an AFP report.
- The Israeli parliament voted on proposals to annex the West Bank.
- The Prime Minister’s Office called the vote a political provocation by the opposition.
- US Vice President JD Vance does not agree with the annexation of the territory.
- The US administration continues its policy against the annexation of the West Bank.
- Muslim and Arab states condemn the bills as a violation of international law.
“The (Israeli parliament’s) Knesset vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
Vance: I take that as an insult
“If it was a political stunt, it was very stupid and I personally find it insulting,” Vance said at the airport before departing for the US. He emphasized that Israel is not annexing the West Bank. “The policy of the (US President Donald) Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel, and that will continue to be our policy,” the vice president said.
Fourteen Muslim and Arab states condemned the bills in a joint statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Thursday. Among the countries are Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey, as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which consider the proposals a “flagrant violation of international law”.
