The US vice president decried the discussions in the Israeli parliament on its annexation plans, following similar criticisms made by the US secretary of state, who are expected later in the day.
During Vance’s visit yesterday, Wednesday, the Knesset approved the consideration of two bills aimed at expanding Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
According to US officials, such a plan harms efforts to consolidate the fragile cease-fire in Gaza.
“The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel, that will continue to be our policy,” Vance said as he wrapped up his visit to Israel. “If something like that would be a political move, it would be a very stupid political move and I personally take it as an insult.”
Before leaving Washington for Israel yesterday, Wednesday, the foreign minister said such a plan would threaten the ceasefire in Gaza and would be harmful.
“It’s not something we can support right now,” said Marco Rubio, who will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tomorrow.
At the end of September, . No, I won’t allow it. That won’t happen.”
The West Bank annexation plan is mainly supported by the Israeli far right.
Reconstruction of Gaza
Yesterday, Wednesday, Vice President Vance admitted that the next phases of the deal to disarm Hamas and rebuild Gaza will be “very difficult.”
“We have a very, very difficult mission ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas and rebuild Gaza, improve life for the people in Gaza, but also ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel,” he said.
Jay de Vance ruled out the possibility of deploying American military forces in Gaza as part of the development of an international security force as provided for in the cease-fire agreement and clarified that countries willing to participate in this force are being sought.
Hamas has so far denied disarming, and its fighters have re-deployed into areas of Gaza since the ceasefire and clashed with other armed groups it accuses of collaborating with Israel.
