Knesset passes two bills supporting annexations in Judea & Samaria in preliminary readings

The Israeli Knesset on Wednesday passed two bills in preliminary readings aimed at advancing annexation measures in Judea and Samaria, despite opposition from the Likud party, which feared the move could offend the United States.

One bill, proposed by Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman, calls for Israel to annex Ma’ale Adumim, a large city to the east of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert.

Ahead of the vote, Liberman argued that taking limited steps would be the most effective way to advance annexation, noting, “Ma’ale Adumim constitutes the broadest consensus in Israeli society. In terms of applying sovereignty, it is better to go for the broadest national consensus – Ma’ale Adumim, Ariel, Gush Etzion and the Jordan Valley.”

The second bill, proposed by Noam party head Avi Maoz, seeks to annex all of Judea and Samaria.

The draft bills are set to be discussed by the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee before they can be presented for three additional readings.

The proposed bills have caused considerable controversy within the government coalition, which generally supports the extension of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

According to the Jewish News Syndicate, Netanyahu’s government has approved 41,709 housing units and 50 new Jewish communities in those areas since December 2022.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had attempted to thwart the bills out of concern that the timing could harm relations with the U.S.

Trump opposed annexations in recent statements. In addition, several Arab states warned that this would be a red line for peace treaties with Israel, and that the bills were proposed while U.S. Vice President JD Vance was visiting Jerusalem.

Before the vote, coalition chairman Ofir Katz wrote a letter to the Likud faction group stating that the issue of sovereignty “is no less important to us than it is to any other Member of Knesset. Sovereignty is not enacted through opposition legislation, and certainly not at a time when we are working with our American partners to achieve all the goals of the war, including the dismantling of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza.”

Katz added, “I have received requests not to vote against [the bills]. Therefore, the faction’s position is to abstain from voting entirely on the sovereignty-related laws being brought up today. This position comes under the directive of the Prime Minister and is binding,” according to Channel 12 News.

In a highly ironic twist, the opposition parties Yisrael Beitenu, Yesh Atid and Blue and White all supported the bill alongside the far-right parties Religious Zionism and Jewish Power.

At the same time, Likud chose to abstain, whereas opposition came from the far-left Democrats, Arab parties, and certain ultra-Orthodox factions

The only Likud Knesset member to remain and vote in favor of the bill was Yuli Edelstein, who was removed as chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee three months ago.

“I just voted in the Knesset plenum in favor of applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” Edelstein wrote on 𝕏 after the vote. “Especially at this time, Israeli sovereignty over all parts of our homeland is the need of the hour. As someone who has fought for the Land of Israel throughout my years in this building and out of a clear belief in the justice of our cause.”

As punishment, the Likud party removed Edelstein from his seat on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

In an official statement, the party later blasted the vote as “another stunt by the opposition, aimed at harming our relationship with the United States and undermining Israel’s major achievements in the campaign.”

“We strengthen the settlements every day – through actions, budgets, construction, and industry – not through empty talk. True sovereignty will not be achieved through a symbolic law for the record, but through proper work on the ground and by creating the diplomatic conditions necessary for international recognition of our sovereignty, as was done in the Golan Heights and in Jerusalem.”

The unusual vote drew harsh criticism of both blocs from both ends of the political spectrum.

The Yesha Council, the umbrella body for West Bank settlements, criticized the right-wing government’s opposition to the bills, saying it “expects Likud Knesset members to join this process and advance the sovereignty plan in accordance with the party’s spirit.”

Yesha Council chief Israel Ganz said that the opposition's push for sovereignty is "unacceptable." He urged the government to take responsibility for these laws and to advance full sovereignty as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, the far-left "Peace Now" organization slammed opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz for supporting the bills, accusing them of launching “a political attack against the Trump administration and our other friends in the world, which also jeopardizes the fragile ceasefire.”

In July, 71 out of 120 Knesset members from the coalition and opposition passed a symbolic, non-binding resolution supporting the application for Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley.