Vice President JD Vance strongly criticized Israeli lawmakers on Thursday after they voted on a bill to take over the West Bank during his visit to the country. The proposal, which would put the occupied territory under Israeli law, passed its first of four needed votes in Israel’s parliament on Wednesday. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party did not support the bill.
According to Fox News, when reporters asked about the vote, Vance said he was confused and annoyed by the timing. He told them that someone had explained the vote was just symbolic and had no real meaning. The vice president made it clear he was not happy with what he saw as an unnecessary problem during his diplomatic visit.
“I mean look, if it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it. The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel,” Vance said. While he admitted that lawmakers can take symbolic votes if they want, Vance made it clear the administration was not happy about it.
The Timing Couldn’t Have Been Worse For This Vote
After Vance spoke out, a top member of Netanyahu’s Likud Party said the prime minister told him not to move forward with any plans about taking over the West Bank. Netanyahu’s office put out a statement: “The Knesset vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel. The two bills were sponsored by opposition members of the Knesset.”
The question of taking over the West Bank has gotten more attention in Israel as several countries have moved to recognize a Palestinian state. Israel took control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians want all three areas for their future state, and most of the world agrees that taking them over would end any remaining chance of a two-state solution.
More than half a million Jewish settlers now live in the West Bank across about 130 settlements. President Donald Trump talked about this issue back in late September, saying he would not allow Israel to take over the West Bank. His clear stance was that such a move is not going to happen under his administration. Trump has also been vocal about his support for Netanyahu, recently calling to pardon the Israeli leader during a Gaza hostage celebration.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” President Donald Trump had said earlier in the Oval Office. While the bill probably would not have moved forward without Likud’s support, the vote during such a high-profile diplomatic visit created an awkward moment that got strong reactions from American leaders. Vance had given a speech at a peace center during his visit, talking about the administration’s views on security in the region.
Published: Oct 23, 2025 05:30 pm