Israel is not annexing the occupied West Bank. This was announced on Thursday by American Vice President JD Vance, who reacted sharply to the actions of the Israeli parliamentarians. They provisionally approved two draft laws just the day before. which pave the way for annexation.
According to US Vice President JD Vance, Israel will not annex the occupied West Bank. Vance made the comments on Thursday, a day after Israeli lawmakers voted in favor of two bills that pave the way for the annexation of the territory. He called the vote an insult, reports TASR, according to reports from the AFP and AP agencies.
- Israel is not annexing the West Bank, the American vice president emphasizes.
- Israel passed laws preparing the annexation of the occupied West Bank.
- The US administration criticizes Israel’s plans and warns of the consequences.
- More than 500,000 settlers live in settlements on the West Bank.
Vance: The West Bank will not be annexed by Israel
“If it was a political stunt, it was very stupid and I personally find it insulting,” Vance said at an Israeli 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.
The Israeli parliament on Wednesday tentatively approved a bill that would extend the validity of Israeli law to the occupied West Bank. According to Reuters, this is a step that is tantamount to the annexation of the territory. This vote was the first of four required to pass the law. It coincided with Vance’s visit to Israel. Trump already declared in September that he will not allow the Jewish state to annex the West Bank.
Since 1967, Israel has built more than 200 settlements in the West Bank
The head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, also warned against attempts to annex this territory on Wednesday before leaving for Israel. According to him, steps towards annexation could jeopardize Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, where a fragile cease-fire is now in effect.
Members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have been calling for the annexation of this territory for years, to which they say Israel has biblical and historical ties. Since 1967, Israel has built more than 200 settlements in the West Bank, which is an occupied territory under international law. More than 500,000 Jewish settlers live in them. All Israeli settlements in this occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. The Palestinians consider the West Bank part of their future independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
