The US Secretary of State has expressed concern that a move by Israel’s parliament to annex the occupied West Bank could undermine Washington’s strategy for resolving the conflict in Gaza. “This is not something we can support at this time,” stated Marco Rubio, speaking before his departure for Israel, where he is part of a US delegation aiming to solidify a fragile ceasefire agreement.
In a significant development, far-right politicians in Israel’s parliament took a preliminary step to advance a bill that would grant Israel authority to annex the West Bank. This territory is claimed by Palestinians as a crucial part of their future independent state, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
The International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest court, declared last year that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is unlawful. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously expressed support for annexing West Bank territory, he has been hesitant to pursue this due to potential repercussions with the US and key Arab allies.
The proposed bill, introduced by lawmakers outside the government, aims to annex the West Bank outright, a move favored by ultra-nationalist factions within Netanyahu’s coalition. The bill passed its initial vote by a narrow margin of 25-24, though its future in the 120-seat Knesset remains uncertain, with options for the Prime Minister to delay or block its progress.
The Palestinian foreign ministry has strongly condemned the Knesset’s action, asserting that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian lands. Israel has established numerous settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, housing around 700,000 Jewish residents, with an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians living in the same areas. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, a stance reinforced by the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion last year.
Rubio emphasized that annexation would be “counterproductive” and “threatening” to the peace process, reiterating the US stance against such measures. His visit coincides with trips by other US officials as the administration seeks to advance the next phase of its Gaza peace plan.
The initial phase of the peace plan, which includes a ceasefire, partial Israeli troop withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid, has been implemented this month. Despite accusations of breaches from both Israel and Hamas, the ceasefire has largely held.
Rubio expressed optimism regarding the preservation of the ceasefire, noting, “Every day there will be threats to it, but I actually think we’re ahead of schedule in terms of bringing it together, and the fact that we made it through this weekend is a good sign.”
The second phase of the peace plan envisions the establishment of an interim government in Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilization force, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of Hamas. The ongoing conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. The ensuing conflict has led to over 68,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures acknowledged by the UN as reliable.