2 West Bank annexation bills get initial nod, with MKs rebelling against PM as Vance visits

In an embarrassment to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right-wing lawmakers voted on Wednesday to pass, in its preliminary reading, a bill that would apply Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements — as well as another, more limited bill to annex a major city-settlement — despite opposition from Netanyahu and most of his Likud party to announcing such a move at this time.

The bills must still pass three additional votes in the plenum and will now be referred to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further consideration. It is highly unlikely that Netanyahu will allow either of the two bills to pass into law.

All but one Likud lawmaker boycotted the votes. MK Yuli Edelstein broke ranks to vote in favor, casting a decisive vote and helping the bill to annex all settlements scrape by 25-24.

In a statement, Edelstein said that he supported the measure because “Israeli sovereignty in all parts of our homeland is the order of the day,” and called on “all Zionist factions to vote in favor.”

In reaction, Likud decided to remove Edelstein from his seat on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, a spokesperson for the lawmaker confirmed to The Times of Israel. (Ed note: Could Trump cause the collapse of the Netanyahu coalition government?) (Read More)