Israeli parliament approves initial bill to occupy West Bank

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has given initial approval to a controversial bill seeking to annex the occupied West Bank into Israeli territory, reports Al Jazeera.

The bill, passed 25–24 in its first reading, aims to extend Israeli sovereignty over the area — a move widely condemned as a violation of international law. It requires three more votes to become law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party opposed the bill, though some coalition and opposition members supported it. The vote came a month after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel not to annex the territory, while Vice President JD Vance is currently visiting Israel to discuss the Gaza ceasefire.

Palestine, Hamas, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have all condemned the move, calling it an act of aggression and a breach of international law. Over 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in illegal settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.