Netanyahu faces internal dissent as Israeli parliament passes West Bank annexation bill

Israel’s parliament has advanced a controversial bill seeking to annex the occupied West Bank, clearing its first stage of approval in a narrow vote.

According to Israeli media reports, the measure passed 25-24 in the Knesset despite opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Most members of Netanyahu’s Likud Party either abstained or did not attend the session. However, one party member, Yuli Edelstein, broke ranks and cast the decisive vote in favour of the bill.

If enacted, the legislation would formalise Israeli sovereignty over territory considered occupied under international law—a move widely condemned by the international community. The annexation of the West Bank is viewed as a direct violation of multiple United Nations resolutions and the Geneva Conventions.

The United States has also previously voiced opposition to any such step. Former President Donald Trump stated that Washington “would not allow” Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, calling it a breach of international norms.

The bill’s advancement highlights growing political divisions within Israel’s leadership as well as renewed concerns about the future of the two-state solution.