The Knesset passes a bill to apply Israeli “sovereignty” over the West Bank, exposing divisions in the Knesset and drawing opposition from Netanyahu.
The Knesset narrowly approved in its initial reading a bill to extend Israeli “sovereignty” over the West Bank this Wednesday, moving forward despite diplomatic pressures and efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay it.
A separate, more focused bill aiming to “annex” a large settlement city also passed.
Both bills still require three more votes in the full Knesset and will be sent to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further examination. It remains doubtful that Netanyahu will permit either to become law.
The initial bill was passed in a preliminary reading by a narrow margin of 25 to 24 and is now under review by the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
This development occurred despite former US President Donald Trump’s statement at the White House in September, saying, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.”
He added, “It’s not going to happen.”
Deputy Avi Maoz of the Noam party introduced the first bill, describing it as “a moment of historic reparation” and stating, “the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Land of Israel to the people of Israel.” He also emphasized that “settling in the Land of Israel is redemption and national rebirth.”
Recurring divisions emerge
The vote highlighted profound splits within the Israeli parliament. Right-wing religious parties such as Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), Noam, and Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home), supported the measure, while centrist and left-leaning factions, including Yesh Atid (There is a Future), the Labor Party, and Arab parties, opposed it.
Within Likud, most lawmakers abstained, except for Yuli Edelstein, who voted in favor.
Following his decision to back the bill and help it pass by a single vote, Netanyahu’s Likud party moved to remove MK Yuli Edelstein from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, a spokesperson confirmed to The Times of Israel.
In a statement, Edelstein expressed his support, arguing “Israeli sovereignty in all parts of our homeland is the order of the day,” urging “all Zionist factions to vote in favor.”
Separate legislation on Ma’ale Adumim
A more narrowly focused “annexation” bill, introduced by opposition leader and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman, also cleared a preliminary vote with 32 in favor and 9 against.
Liberman’s proposal targets the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim near occupied al-Quds, where the government is actively pursuing expansion.
Likud dismisses bill, others applaud
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party criticized the Knesset’s tentative approval of the “sovereignty” bill, calling it “trolling… aimed at harming our relations with the US and Israel’s significant gains in the Gaza operation.”
“We reinforce settlements daily through concrete actions, budgets, building, and industry—not mere words,” the party said, asserting that “real sovereignty won’t come from a symbolic law, but by working on the ground and creating political circumstances suitable for sovereignty recognition, as was done with the Golan Heights and Jerusalem.”
Nonetheless, Education Minister and Likud member Yoav Kisch defended the government’s approach, saying, “I strongly believe in sovereignty, but it isn’t achieved through opposition bills,” adding, “We build it daily on the ground.”
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on X: “Mr Prime Minister. The Knesset has spoken. The people have spoken.”
He declared, “The time has come to impose full sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria — the heritage of our ancestors — and to advance peace agreements in exchange for peace with our neighbors with strength.”
Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed pride that his Otzma Yehudit party voted in favor on this “historic day.”
Speaking to coalition members in Likud, the far-right minister acknowledged “the international pressure you face,” but affirmed, “the right-wing government is doing what is right for the residents of the State of Israel. And what is right for the residents is sovereignty now.”
Original article: english.almayadeen.net
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