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On October 22, 2025, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) approved a preliminary reading of a bill proposing the annexation of large areas of the occupied West Bank, including settlements.
The vote was close, with 25 votes in favor and 24 against, in a session with limited attendance, pushed by far-right lawmakers.
This symbolic measure would apply Israeli sovereignty to these areas, thus formalizing control over the territories conquered in 1967.
However, it requires additional readings and an absolute majority in the 120-seat Knesset to become law, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly opposed it, considering it untimely.
The bill’s advancement coincided with a visit by US Vice President J.D. Vance, who was in Israel to reinforce the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
US President Donald Trump has strongly opposed the possible annexation, stating in an interview with Time magazine that it “will not happen” because he gave his word to the Arab countries that support his Middle East peace initiatives, including the Gaza agreement and the expansion of the Abraham Accords.
He warned that proceeding would lead Israel to “lose all US support,” emphasizing the need to maintain Arab trust for regional stability.
The Trump administration echoed this stance: Vance called the vote “an insult” and “very stupid,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “threat” to Trump’s Gaza plan.
Trump reiterated his firm policy: “The West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.” On X (formerly Twitter), discussions of Trump’s stance highlighted skepticism, with users pointing to it as a matter of opportunity rather than an outright rejection, but no direct posts from Trump’s account (@realDonaldTrump) on the topic were found in recent searches.
The timing of Vance’s visit was seen as a direct attack on the Trump administration’s efforts to stabilize Gaza and expand normalization with Arab states.
It could undermine Trump’s signature foreign policy achievements, such as the Abraham Accords, by alienating key Arab partners who view annexation as a red line.
Annexation would formally bury the Oslo Accords and the prospect of a Palestinian state, as it would incorporate the West Bank settlements into Israel itself, fragmenting the Palestinian territories into isolated enclaves.
The move violates international law, including UN resolutions, and would likely draw condemnation from the UN, the EU, and other bodies. It could lead to sanctions or boycotts, further isolating Israel globally.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers. Annexation could spark renewed unrest, protests, or armed resistance, potentially escalating into a wider conflict.
Critics argue that it jeopardizes the fragile truce in Gaza, as it signals Israel’s intention to expand control rather than seek peace, potentially derailing Trump’s regional plan.
Israel has accelerated settlement construction and demolition (1,779 Palestinian structures have been demolished in recent years for “lack of permits,” which are rarely granted). This de facto annexation displaces Palestinians, confining them to enclaves and exacerbating humanitarian crises.
Annexation would restrict Palestinian access to land, water, and resources, worsening poverty and unemployment in the West Bank.
Trump’s threat could lead to cuts to billions of dollars in annual US military aid to Israel, although its implementation remains uncertain given historical US support.
It could embolden hardliners in Israel while alienating moderate Arab states, complicating efforts against Iran or other shared threats.
This vote reflects the growing widespread support in Israel for annexation, once a fringe idea but now driven by a far-right coalition amid ongoing conflicts.
However, it is unlikely to fully advance due to opposition from Netanyahu, Trump, and international pressure; Netanyahu reportedly abandoned similar plans in September 2025.
Trump’s firm stance prioritizes his peace deals and Arab alliances over Israeli expansionism, marking a pragmatic shift from the pro-Israel policies of his first term.
Ultimately, the episode underscores the fragility of peace in the Middle East. Annexation would irreversibly damage the two-state paradigm, fuel extremism, and isolate Israel, but US influence could prevent it—for now. If ignored, it could cause a major rupture in US-Israel relations under Trump.
