Rubio warns against West Bank annexation after Israeli parliament advances

The US secretary of state said a move by Israel’s parliament to annex the occupied West Bank would threaten Washington’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza.

“It’s not something we can support right now,” Marco Rubio said before departing for Israel as part of US efforts to shore up a fragile ceasefire agreement.

In an apparent attempt to embarrass Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, far-right politicians took the symbolic step of giving preliminary approval to a bill that would give Israel the right to annex the West Bank.

Palestinians claim the West Bank – occupied by Israel since 1967 – as part of a hoped-for independent state.

Last year, the International Court of Justice – the highest court of the United Nations – ruled Israel’s occupation illegal.

Netanyahu has previously spoken in support of annexing West Bank land but has not gone ahead because of the risk of alienating the US – Israel’s most important ally – and Arab countries that have forged ties with Israel after decades of hostility.

Ultra-nationalists in Netanyahu’s governing coalition have repeatedly called for Israel to fully annex the West Bank, although the bill was advanced by lawmakers outside the government.

The bill passed by a vote of 25-24. It is unclear whether there is support for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament), and there are ways to delay or defeat the prime minister.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the Knesset’s decision, saying Israel would have no sovereignty over Palestinian land.

During its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israel has built about 160 settlements that house 700,000 Jews. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live in their neighborhood.

The settlements are illegal under international law – a position supported by an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice last year.

On board plane to Israel, Rubio said annexation would be “counterproductive” and “threatening” to peace deal – repeat US opposition to annexation.

His visit on Thursday comes on the heels of a visit by US Vice President JD Vance and two special envoys, as the Trump administration tries to open talks. The second critical phase of his 20-point Gaza peace plan.

The first phase – which includes a ceasefire, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and an influx of aid – came into effect earlier this month.

Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the agreement over deadly incidents, but it has so far remained in place.

Rubio chimed in Same optimism as Vance To preserve the ceasefire.

“There will be threats every day, but I think we’re ahead of schedule in terms of putting it together and it’s a good sign that we’ve done it this weekend,” he said.

The second phase of the peace plan would include the establishment of an interim government in Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilization force, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas.

The war in Gaza began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

In the ensuing conflict, more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.