Knesset Narrowly Advances Contentious West Bank Sovereignty Bill Amid Coalition Rift

The Israeli Knesset advanced a highly contentious bill seeking to formally extend Israeli sovereignty across the territories of Judea and Samaria, commonly known as the West Bank, following a preliminary vote of 25-24 on October 21, 2025. This initial procedural success signals significant momentum for the legislation, which effectively proposes annexation, despite facing opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party.

The bill, which now moves to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for detailed review, was spearheaded by Avi Maoz, the leader of the far-right Noam Party. The narrow margin of the vote exposed clear internal divisions within the ruling coalition. Key coalition members, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Jewish Power party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism faction, supported the measure, directly contradicting the Prime Minister's stated preference.

Finance Minister Smotrich publicly supported the move, stating, "The time has come to apply full sovereignty over all the territories of Judea and Samaria - the inheritance of our forefathers - and to promote peace agreements in exchange for peace with our neighbors, from a position of strength." Conversely, the legislation drew swift international condemnation. United Nations experts previously asserted that any such annexation would constitute a "serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions." Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates characterized the preliminary approval as "a blatant violation of international law, an undermining of the two-state solution, and an infringement on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination."

The progression of this bill, which requires three more successful votes to become law, occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional instability and coincides with a visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The Likud party dismissed the vote as an opposition "provocation" aimed at damaging relations with the United States, asserting that true sovereignty is achieved through on-the-ground work, not symbolic legislation. The vote's tight margin underscores the delicate political balance required to advance such a divisive piece of legislation through the Knesset.