Israel approves of attachment of the West Bank and raises tension in the Middle East

The Parliament of Israel (Knesset) approved on Wednesday (23) a symbolic motion defending the application of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

Although it has no immediate legal effect, the proposal represents a significant advance in the political articulation of the Israeli far right to formalize annexation.

The measure was approved by 71 votes in favor and 13 against, with the support of the Government Coalition and the Yisrael Beitenu Party. The motion states that full sovereignty over the West Bank is “inseparable part of the realization of Zionism and the national project of the Jewish people”.

The text also states that the “October 7 massacre” would prove that the creation of a Palestinian state represents an “existential threat” to Israel. The proposal was sponsored by parliamentarians of the religious Zionism parties, Likud, Otzma Yehudit and Yisrael Beithu, all from Benjamin Netanyahu base.

The Palestinian Authority repudiated the approval of the motion, classifying the act as an advance in the institutionalization of a colonial and apartheid regime.

For the Palestinian government, it is an affront to UN resolutions and an aggravation of violations of international law. In an official statement, the government in Ramallah warned that the Israeli initiative hurts the basic principles of self -determination and Palestinian sovereignty.

The Israeli organization Peace Now, a critique of government expansionist policies, said that “empty and harmful statements about annexation are a diplomatic attack on the state of Israel, which highlight the abyss between government and people.”

Several Arab countries and institutions such as the Arab League and the Islamic Cooperation Organization have also spoken out against the decision, demanding positioning from the international community.

Without immediate practical effect, but with strong political and ideological weight

Despite being a declaratory proposal, the vote is interpreted as an institutional preparation for future legislative initiatives for the formal attachment of the West Bank.

The text was presented at the end of Knesset’s summer session, which recesses until October 20. At least four coalition parliamentarians presented the proposal, including Simcha Rothman, Dan Illouz and Limor Son Har-Melech, all linked to Israeli far right parties.

Parliamentarians of centrist party Yesh Atid and Blue and White retired from the plenary at the time of vote. The Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, celebrated the measure on social networks, stating that “there will be no more temporary solutions or hesitation – this is our land.”

The movement was also driven by a confusion generated by a channel 14 reporter, the Young Pan Israeli, who accused Knesset president of blocking an annexation bill. In response, Amir Ohana published that “there is no law under discussion, just a proposal for the agenda.”

Legislative block, crisis with ultra -portodox parties and kneset stoppage

The approval of the motion took place amid the internal political crisis of the Netanyahu coalition, which faces the boycott of ultra -portodox parties after the impasse on the law that exempts them from compulsory military enlistment.

The blockade paralyzed the votes of various bills, including those that would be brought to the so-called “cleaning clean” before recess. Only proposals linked to national security were voted.

Among the postponement projects were laws that expand ineligibility in municipal elections, prohibit the hiring of teachers with Palestinian diplomas and oblige the use of the term “Judea and Samaria” (Surrounding) in Israeli legislation.

The so -called “Al Jazeera Law” was also postponed, which would allow the closing of foreign media vehicles and is considered part of the ongoing authoritarian reform in the country.

Connections with the editorial line: colonial expansionism, illegality and democratic erosion

The approval of the motion tunes into the agenda of colonization and territorial expansion of the Netanyahu government, which had already authorized the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank.

The International Court of Justice, in an opinion of July 2024, declared the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, recommending the evacuation of colonates and the immediate end of the occupation.

At the same time, it grows within Israel the warning of diplomatic isolation and the political cost of radicalization of the coalition in power.

The use of symbolic proposals like this – without immediate legal value, but with a high ideological impact – reveals the strategy of consolidating the domain over Palestine without negotiations, through the legalization of the fait accompli. The offensive in Gaza, attacks on education and judicial reforms are part of the same project of democratic erosion, even denounced by sectors of Israeli opposition.