Israeli Parliament Votes to Annex West Bank, Defying Two-State Solution

Israeli parliament votes to annex occupied West Bank, marking an escalation in the government's efforts to annex the territory. Despite US official policy goal of a two-state solution, some US politicians, including Sen. John Fetterman, say they haven't been following the issue closely.

In a significant move, the Israeli Knesset voted 71-13 to pass a non-binding motion calling for the annexation of the West Bank. This symbolic gesture, advanced by members of the governing coalition and opposition parties, has sparked both domestic and international reactions.

The resolution, introduced by Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman, Likud MK Dan Illouz, and Yisrael Beiteinu MK Oded Forer, declares the West Bank as an "inseparable part of the Land of Israel" and calls for the application of Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the region. This comes amidst ongoing political turmoil within the coalition and the government's efforts to maintain stability [1].

The vote, which took place on Wednesday, drew criticism from numerous countries, including those in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), who condemned it as a "blatant violation of international law." The OIC countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, called on the international community to oppose what they term "illegitimate Israeli policies" aimed at annexing Palestinian territories [2].

Meanwhile, the United States has maintained its policy goal of a two-state solution, despite some politicians, such as Sen. John Fetterman, expressing that they have not been closely following the issue. The U.S. State Department has not confirmed its attendance at an upcoming U.N. conference on the two-state solution, scheduled for July 28-29, 2025. The conference aims to produce an action-oriented outcome document detailing steps towards implementing a two-state solution [3].

The Knesset's vote has escalated tensions in the region, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, calling the annexation vote a "dangerous escalation" that undermines the prospects for peace and stability. The vote also raises questions about the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the potential impact on international relations and geopolitical dynamics.

References:
[1] https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-votes-71-13-for-non-binding-motion-calling-to-annex-west-bank/
[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/israeli-parliament-passes-west-bank-145930290.html
[3] https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/un-two-state-solution-event-to-go-ahead-sans-us-israel/article_bdfbb848-fb8b-5f78-9654-c72499efe705.html