Israeli Knesset to Vote on Proposal Supporting Sovereignty over the West Bank amid Escalating Tensions
The Israeli Knesset is scheduled to vote today, Wednesday, on a draft resolution that calls for the imposition of what is referred to as “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank—a move that effectively paves the way for its annexation and constitutes a blatant violation of international law and UN resolutions.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, the proposal was submitted by members of the ruling coalition ahead of the Knesset’s recess and has garnered explicit support from senior government officials. Among them is Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who described the initiative as “historic and long overdue,” affirming his intention to vote in favor.
Although the resolution is non-binding and does not carry the weight of law, it reflects an increasingly assertive political agenda aimed at legitimizing Israel’s control over the occupied territory. Formal decisions on such matters remain under the purview of the Israeli government.
This political maneuver comes in tandem with an ongoing military escalation on the ground, including near-daily raids, arrests, and military operations across the West Bank since October 7, 2023.
Provocative Conference in the Knesset
Earlier this week, a conference was held at the Knesset building in West Jerusalem, drawing participation from right-wing ministers and lawmakers, particularly from the ruling Likud party. The event also featured former U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.
Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin, speaking at the conference, stated that Israel faces a “historic opportunity” that must not be missed to apply full sovereignty over “Judea and Samaria”—the biblical terms Israel uses to refer to the West Bank. “We need swift action,” he said. “We must not surrender. Sovereignty must include all settlements.”
Energy Minister Eli Cohen added, “There will be only one state between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River—Israel. Sovereignty in the West Bank is a security necessity before it is a political choice.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana opened the event by noting that the Knesset had previously passed a resolution with 68 votes against the establishment of a Palestinian state, declaring the West Bank as “Israel’s front line of defense.”
Knesset member Avichay Buaron, one of the sponsors of the proposal, argued that more than 500,000 settlers currently live under what he described as “Jordanian law” and must be brought under Israeli law, claiming it is essential for the security of Israel and its citizens.
Former U.S. ambassador Friedman expressed support for the move, admitting that refraining from annexation during his tenure was “one of the hardest decisions.” He stated that sovereignty over the West Bank is “not a whim, but a shared interest.”
Heightened Annexation Calls amid Gaza War
The current vote follows intensified official calls to annex the West Bank. On July 2, 2025, 14 Likud ministers and Knesset Speaker Ohana sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging immediate approval of the annexation.
Throughout the ongoing war in Gaza—described by many as a campaign of genocide—Israeli officials have increasingly called for the annexation of the West Bank, viewing the war as an opportunity to advance their political agenda while the world’s attention is diverted.
These calls have sparked widespread condemnation across the Arab world and from the international community, as they are seen as a flagrant breach of international law and longstanding UN resolutions that affirm the need to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories captured in 1967, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have escalated their attacks across the West Bank, resulting in the killing of over 1,000 Palestinians and the injury of nearly 7,000 others, according to Palestinian sources.
