Trump and Vance say West Bank annexation would risk Israel’s US support: 'It will not happen'

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized the Knesset’s decision to advance a bill to annex the reportedly already occupied West Bank on Thursday, October 23.

Speaking to reporters, Vance said that he was told the Israeli parliament’s vote “had no practical significance.”

Vance calls Knesset vote a ‘stupid political stunt’

Vance underscored the point that the vote has no validity. 

“Somebody told me that it was a political stunt, that it had no practical significance, it was purely symbolic,” Vance said to reporters on the tarmac of Tel Aviv's international airport. 

"I mean, look, if it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it," he added.

Vance made it clear that the administration’s stance remains unchanged.

"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," he continued.

"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," he concluded.

Trump says annexation will have heavy consequences

President Donald Trump, in an interview with Time Magazine published on Thursday, warned that Israel would “lose all of its support from the United States” if it annexes the West Bank.

“It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” Trump said.

“It will not happen. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened,” the president added.

Trump’s remarks came on October 15, before the Knesset’s vote to advance the controversial bill. The president also expressed interest in visiting the Gaza Strip, though he offered no timeline or details for the trip.

Rubio warns of ceasefire risk amid renewed Gaza tension

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also voiced concern, warning that the Knesset’s move could endanger the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

His comments came after flashes of violence in Gaza in recent days threatened to unravel the truce deal, with both sides trading accusations of ceasefire violations.

Israel and Hamas have reportedly clashed over delays regarding the return of hostage bodies and over alleged restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the enclave.

“This is a complex part of the world,” Rubio said on Wednesday.

“I think every day is going to bring opportunities, and it’s also going to bring some challenges, okay?  We’re dealing with decades and decades of this stuff,” he added.

Earlier this week, Vance also inaugurated a civilian military coordination center in Israel to plan the stabilization and restoration of Gaza.