U.S. Vice President Criticizes Israeli Parliament's West Bank Annexation Vote

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has criticized Israel's parliament for a preliminary vote supporting West Bank annexation, calling it an 'insult' and contrary to U.S. policy. The Israeli Knesset narrowly passed a symbolic preliminary vote endorsing the annexation of the occupied West Bank, a move seen as an attempt to embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Vance's visit. The bill, sponsored by hard-line parliamentarians, received limited support from Netanyahu's Likud Party and is unlikely to become law. Netanyahu opposes the bill, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump's stance against annexation. The United Arab Emirates has also expressed that any Israeli annexation would be a 'red line.' Vance, speaking at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, stated, 'If the Knesset vote was a political stunt, then it is a very stupid political stunt.' He emphasized, 'The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.' The Palestinians seek the West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as part of a future independent state. Israeli annexation of the territory would all but bury hopes for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Earlier this week, Vance announced the opening of a civilian-military coordination center in southern Israel, where approximately 200 U.S. troops are collaborating with the Israeli military and international delegations to plan the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to visit the center and appoint a Foreign Service official to work alongside Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East. The U.S. is seeking support from Gulf Arab nations to create an international stabilization force for Gaza and to train a Palestinian force. Rubio stated, 'We'd like to see Palestinian police forces in Gaza that are not Hamas and that are going to do a good job, but those still have to be trained and equipped.' Rubio has also criticized Israeli far-right lawmakers' efforts to push for West Bank annexation. In Gaza, the World Health Organization has evacuated 41 critical patients and 145 companions, with approximately 15,000 patients still awaiting approval for medical care outside Gaza. Andrew Saberton, an executive director at the U.N. Population Fund, described the 'sheer devastation' in Gaza, noting that women are giving birth in rubble or beside the road due to the lack of functioning health care facilities. Israel's Supreme Court held a hearing on whether to open the Gaza Strip to international media, giving the state 30 days to present a new position in light of the ceasefire. Israel has blocked reporters from entering Gaza since the war erupted with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Foreign Press Association expressed 'disappointment' and called the Israeli government's position to deny journalists access 'unacceptable.'