Israeli Parliament Moves to Annex Occupied West Bank Despite US Warning
Two controversial bills pushing for the annexation of the occupied West Bank narrowly advanced through Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, late Tuesday night, drawing sharp criticism from both the United States and Israel’s own leadership. The move has once again intensified debate over Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories and its implications for regional stability. US President Donald Trump responded tersely to the development, saying, “Israel is not going to do anything with the West Bank.” His vice president, JD Vance, who is currently in Israel to reinforce the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire, went further, calling the vote “weird” and admitting that he found it “personally insulting.” The occupied West Bank, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, has been under Israeli military control since 1967. Over the decades, Israel has established hundreds of settlements in the area—illegal under international law […]