Overview
- Israel's parliament approved preliminary readings on two measures, one to annex Maale Adumim and another to apply sovereignty to West Bank settlements, passing 32–9 and 25–24.
- Both bills were sent to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and must clear three further readings, a path seen as unlikely without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support.
- Netanyahu’s office labeled the move a political provocation during Vice President J. D. Vance’s visit, as most Likud lawmakers boycotted the votes and only Yuli Edelstein backed one measure.
- President Donald Trump told Time that Israel would lose all U.S. support if it annexed the West Bank, while Vance called the votes a “very stupid political stunt” and reiterated that annexation will not occur.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich apologized after saying Saudis should “keep riding camels,” drawing criticism as Washington seeks regional normalization that hinges on halting annexation.