Israeli FM dismisses US criticism over West Bank annexation vote

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has responded to remarks by US Vice President J. D. Vance, who said he was offended by the Knesset’s vote on applying sovereignty.

Speaking at a press conference with Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali, Saar said that the government had not take n part in the vote, describing it as a political move by the opposition aimed at embarrassing the government during the visit, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

FM said that this was only a preliminary reading and could not be implemented without the support of the Israeli government, adding that they would not advance it.

On October 23, US Vice President J.D. Vance sharply criticised Israel’s preliminary parliamentary vote in favour of annexing parts of the West Bank, calling it both an “insult” and a move inconsistent with the Trump administration’s official stance.

Speaking before his departure from Tel Aviv, Vance stated, “I personally take some insult to it. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.”

Vance additionally noted that the US is preparing for the next phase in Gaza, saying reconstruction could soon begin in certain “Hamas-free” zones but warned that full recovery would take years.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned far-right Israeli lawmakers promoting annexation, as Israel faces internal coalition strains and rising regional pressure, particularly from the United Arab Emirates.

By Jeyhun Aghazada