Palestine Pushes Back Against West Bank Annexation 🏙️
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed Israel's parliament on Wednesday after a razor-thin 25-24 vote approved a bill to extend Israeli law over settlements in the West Bank (referred to by Israel as Judea and Samaria). The ministry called the move 'null and void,' arguing that Israel has no authority over Palestinian territories.
Understanding Annexation 🤔
Annexation means officially claiming a territory as your own, giving it the same laws and administration as existing regions. Here, it would apply Israeli sovereignty to settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Why It Matters
Palestine sees the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip as one united area under its leadership (represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization). They warn that changing the “facts on the ground” infringes on Palestinian rights and could derail any future peace efforts.
Divisions in Israeli Politics ⚖️
The bill, introduced by right-wing lawmaker Avi Maoz of the Noam Party, now heads to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Some coalition members broke ranks and backed the opposition-sponsored measure despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging them to abstain—highlighting deep splits over annexation policy.
What’s Next?
Palestine plans to challenge the annexation through political, diplomatic, and legal channels, calling on international bodies to reject any systematic land seizure. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops! ✌️
Reference(s):
Palestine denounces Israeli parliament's annexation bid for West Bank
cgtn.com
