The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned a controversial Israeli parliamentary vote to advance a bill extending Israeli sovereignty over settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the move a violation of international law. The ministry emphasized that the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza form an "integral geographical unit" under Palestinian sovereignty, rejecting Israel's efforts to "impose new realities on the ground."
Israel's parliament, the Knesset, narrowly approved the bill 25-24 on Wednesday, with right-wing lawmaker Avi Maoz leading the push. The proposal now moves to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further debate. The vote exposed political rifts within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, as some members defied his call to abstain.
Palestinian officials vowed to challenge the annexation bid through diplomatic and legal channels, urging global actors to oppose what they termed Israel's "systematic land seizure policies." Analysts warn the bill could escalate regional tensions and complicate international peace efforts.
