Israeli ministers applaud during Argentina president’s address to Knesset in Jerusalem on June 11. Photo: AFP
Tel Aviv: Israel’s parliament has passed a non-binding motion supporting the annexation of the occupied West Bank, a move that has drawn strong criticism from Palestinian leaders and countries across the Middle East.
The vote, held on Wednesday, July 23, passed with 71 members in favour and 13 opposed in the 120-seat Knesset. The motion was introduced by right-wing lawmakers Simcha Rothman, Orit Strock, Dan Illouz, and Oded Forer, and backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
The resolution, which is declarative and carries no immediate legal force, calls for “applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley”—Israeli terms for the West Bank, the Palestinian News Agency Wafa reported
It claims that annexing the area “will strengthen the state of Israel, its security, and prevent any questioning of the fundamental right of the Jewish people to peace and security in their homeland.”
Though symbolic, the motion could influence future legislative debates on formal annexation. The idea was first proposed in 2023 by Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana endorsed the move, saying the 1967 war marked the “return” of Jewish land rather than the start of occupation. “We are the original natives of this land. Jews cannot be occupiers in Judea,” he said.
Israel seized the West Bank from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War. Today, the area is home to more than 500,000 Israeli settlers and millions of Palestinians. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law, a stance Israel disputes.
The vote comes amid increased violence and instability across the West Bank, where Israeli military operations and settler violence have intensified. Human rights groups and foreign governments warn that any move toward annexation would effectively destroy the possibility of a two-state solution.
Annexation of the West Bank could make it impossible to create a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, which is seen internationally as the only realistic way to resolve the conflict.
Palestinian officials swiftly condemned the decision. The presidency and Hamas called it “null and void,” while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates warned it would entrench apartheid and prolong the occupation.
In a statement, the ministry accused Israel of ignoring international law and UN resolutions, as well as the July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which reaffirmed the illegality of Israel’s presence in the West Bank.
“These colonial measures sabotage the two-state solution and entrench permanent occupation,” the ministry said, urging the international community to respond decisively ahead of the upcoming UN conference.
Hussein Al Sheikh, deputy chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, called the vote “a dangerous escalation” and “a direct assault on the rights of the Palestinian people.”
Governments across the Gulf countries also issued sharp condemnations. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) denounced the motion as a “flagrant violation” of international law and a major threat to peace in the region.
In 2024, the Knesset passed a similar symbolic resolution opposing the creation of a Palestinian state and backing Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
International support for Palestinian statehood continues to grow. Ireland, Spain, Norway, and Slovenia recognised Palestine in 2024. In March 2025, Mexico became the 147th UN member state to follow suit.
Since October 7, 2023, violence in the West Bank has surged, with at least 988 Palestinians killed and around 7,000 injured, according to Palestinian sources.
This post was last modified on July 24, 2025 5:59 pm