🌍 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the Israeli Knesset's recent vote to apply Israeli law to the occupied West Bank could derail President Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict.
Rubio, speaking to reporters before his visit to Israel, said this preliminary vote—first of four needed to pass the law—"is potentially threatening to the peace deal." Despite the fragile truce achieved with Hamas, annexation efforts risk upsetting negotiations.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is in Israel, meeting leaders like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key ministers to support the ceasefire and the Gaza peace roadmap. The U.S. is showing its commitment through high-level visits, hoping to keep the momentum alive.
The annexation bill, backed by opposition lawmakers and approved by a razor-thin margin (25-24), would affect territories Palestinians claim for a future state. Israel argues historical and biblical ties to the land, while the international community views the settlements as illegal under international law.
This push from ultra-nationalist lawmakers comes as the most right-wing government in Israel's history expands settlement building. The issue has long been identified as a major barrier to lasting Middle East peace.
In the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates—a pioneer in normalizing ties with Israel via the Abraham Accords—has warned that annexation is a red line. Senior Emirati officials, alongside U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are coordinating efforts to strengthen the Gaza ceasefire and avert further escalation.
With tensions high and the next parliamentary votes looming, all eyes are on whether annexation plans will move forward—and whether they will endanger the fragile path to peace in Gaza. 🕊️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
