In a razor-thin 25-24 vote, Israel's parliament approved a bill to apply Israeli law and administration to settlements in the occupied West Bank, known to Israel as Judea and Samaria.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the move, saying Israel has no authority over any part of the Palestinian territory. In its statement, it stressed that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip form an "integral geographical unit of the State of Palestine" under the sovereignty of the Palestinian people and their leadership, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Describing Israel's attempts to impose new realities on the ground as "null and void," the ministry vowed to challenge the annexation bid through political, diplomatic and legal means. It also urged countries and international bodies to reject Israel's "systematic policies of land seizure and annexation."
Introduced by right-wing lawmaker Avi Maoz of the one-man Noam Party, the bill now heads to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further debate. Reports say some coalition members broke ranks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to abstain, highlighting deep divisions over annexation policy.
As the next steps unfold, global attention is fixed on how this move will shape the region's future and the broader conversation on sovereignty, rights and international norms.
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Palestine denounces Israeli parliament's annexation bid for West Bank
cgtn.com
