Israel’s parliament on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would extend Israeli law to the occupied West Bank. The move is widely viewed as a step toward annexation of land that Palestinians claim for a future state.

The proposal, introduced by lawmakers outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, passed narrowly by 25–24 votes in the first of four required readings. In a separate decision, another opposition bill calling for the annexation of the Maale Adumim settlement passed with 31–9 votes.

While Netanyahu’s Likud party did not back the proposal, some of his coalition members supported it. Lawmakers from Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party and Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism faction voted in favour. The vote took place during a visit by US Vice President JD Vance, just a month after President Donald Trump said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.

Longstanding Push for Annexation

Several members of Netanyahu’s coalition have long demanded that Israel formally annex parts of the West Bank, citing biblical and historical ties to the territory.

Israel maintains that the areas it captured during the 1967 war are “disputed lands” and not “occupied” in legal terms. However, the United Nations and most of the international community disagree, viewing the territories as occupied Palestinian land.

In 2024, the U.N.’s top court ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and its settlements there are illegal. The court said Israel should withdraw as soon as possible.

Netanyahu Balances Pressure and Diplomacy

Netanyahu’s government had earlier considered annexation as a possible reaction to several Western countries recognizing a Palestinian state in September. However, the plan was reportedly dropped after Trump expressed his opposition.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the Israeli votes, calling them proof of “the ugly face of the colonial occupation.”

In a statement, Hamas said, “We affirm that the occupation’s frantic attempts to annex West Bank lands are invalid and illegitimate.” The group is currently trying to rebuild its influence in Gaza, where it suffered heavy losses after two years of war with Israel.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority continues to exercise limited self-rule in certain parts of the West Bank.

Regional Reaction and the Abraham Accords

Netanyahu has avoided openly discussing annexation since 2020, when he dropped a similar pledge to instead normalize ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain under the Abraham Accords brokered by Trump.

The UAE, which was the most prominent Arab nation to establish ties with Israel, has warned that annexing the West Bank would cross a “red line.”

Senior Emirati official Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE president, reiterated that position at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi. He said, “Maximalist views on the Palestinian issue are no longer valid.”

Context of Rising Tensions

The latest Israeli parliamentary moves reflect growing domestic pressure on Netanyahu’s fragile coalition, as right-wing lawmakers push for stronger control over Palestinian territories.

At the same time, Washington and Arab states are urging restraint. Trump’s firm stance against annexation and the UAE’s warnings underline how regional diplomacy remains tied to the future of the West Bank.

If passed in all four readings, the bill could mark one of the most dramatic shifts in Israel’s territorial policy in decades — deepening tensions with Palestinians and challenging international law.