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October 23, 2025

Israeli Lawmakers Advance Bills to Annex West Bank, Drawing Rare U.S. Criticism
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Israel's Knesset has advanced legislation that would effectively annex
the occupied West Bank. The move prompted rare criticism from U.S.
officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who departed for
Israel Wednesday in a bid to prevent the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire
from further unraveling. Rubio's trip comes on the heels of visits by
Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared
Kushner. Earlier today, Vance said he was "personally" insulted by the
annexation vote, which came during his visit.

Vice President JD Vance: "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. The policy of the Trump administration is that the
West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our
policy. And if people want to take symbolic votes, they can do that, but
we certainly weren't happy about it."

Separately, Israel's Supreme Court Wednesday further delayed ruling on a
petition calling on Israel to allow foreign reporters access to Gaza.
The Foreign Press Association said it was "disappointed" by the
additional monthlong delay, which it blasted as a "stalling tactic."


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