ALBAWABA- In a major escalation of Israeli policy, the Knesset on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for the application of full Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
The non-binding resolution, passed by a landslide majority with 71 votes, against 13, signals a formal political shift toward annexation and has sparked strong regional and international concern.
The motion asserts that the West Bank is no longer to be treated as a territory under temporary military occupation, but as an integral part of the Israeli state.
As a result, Palestinians in the West Bank would be considered residents under Israeli law rather than citizens, with their legal status subject to revocation.
Legal analysts warn that this move could allow Israel to strip Palestinians of their residency rights if they are deemed non-compliant with Israeli regulations.
This opens the door to potential large-scale displacements, particularly to third countries with which Israel has signed agreements.
Those who remain are likely to face restrictions on civil and political rights, further entrenching a system of legal and political inequality.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Knesset’s decision, describing it as a "dangerous step toward institutionalized apartheid" and "a direct violation of international law and Palestinian sovereignty."
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the far-right coalition, welcomed the vote.
He also renewed calls for a full military occupation of Gaza and advocated for what he termed a "humanitarian separation plan", a controversial proposal aimed at displacing Gaza’s population and dismantling Hamas through overwhelming force or forced population transfer.
