JPOST
Netanyahu: West Bank annexation bill a ‘provocation’ to sow discord between Israel, US
Reuters
October 23, 2025

The recent Knesset vote on West Bank annexation was a “deliberate political provocation by the opposition” meant to incite conflict during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Thursday. The clarification came following Vance’s statement that US President Donald Trump would oppose Israeli annexation of the West Bank, and it would not happen, suggesting a move by Israeli lawmakers to that end looked like a stupid “political stunt”. A bill applying Israeli law to the West Bank, a move tantamount to annexation of the territory Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, won preliminary approval from Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday. READ MORE

ARUTZ SHEVA Trump on sovereignty: Don’t worry, Israel’s not going to do anything US President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter on Thursday about the sovereignty bill that was passed in the Knesset a day earlier. “Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank, okay? Don’t worry about it. Is that your question? They’re not going to do anything with the West Bank,” he replied.