In His Blunt Manner, Vance Comes to Netanyahu’s Aid
The U.S. vice president railed against a Knesset vote on a law intended to pave the way for annexations in the West Bank.
The words that U.S. Vice President JD Vance used to describe a Knesset vote during his visit to Israel might have sparked diplomatic tensions if they had been uttered by a politician from another country under different circumstances. The vote on a law designed to pave the way for the annexation of parts of the West Bank was a “very stupid political stunt,” and Vance said he felt personally insulted. Donald Trump issued a matter-of-fact statement from the White House: Israel “is not going to do anything with the West Bank.”
In his characteristically blunt manner, Vance came to the aid of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who finds himself torn between obeying the U.S. president and satisfying his far-right coalition partners. Netanyahu called on his Likud party to abstain: "True sovereignty" (Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, i.e., annexation) will not be achieved “through a showy law for the record, but through proper work,” the party announced.
The West Bank: A Weak Point
The U.S. knows that the West Bank, which is not even mentioned in Trump's 20-point plan, is a weak point in the overall project. As far as the Gaza Strip is concerned, the new structures envisaged in the plan must be created as quickly as possible. When it comes to the West Bank, the strategy centers on freezing and postponing. This will determine whether important Arab players, whose commitment and financial support are anticipated, stay on board.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalized its relations with Israel in 2020, refers to annexations as a “red line.” Saudi Arabia wants to see a process that will lead to a Palestinian state. Both are uncomfortable with the prominent roles that Turkey and Qatar are playing in the whole Trump project.
The words that U.S. Vice President JD Vance used to describe a Knesset vote during his visit to Israel might have sparked diplomatic tensions if they had been uttered by a politician from another country under different circumstances. The vote on a law designed to pave the way for the annexation of parts of the West Bank was a “very stupid political stunt,” and Vance said he felt personally insulted. Donald Trump issued a matter-of-fact statement from the White House: Israel “is not going to do anything with the West Bank.”
In his characteristically blunt manner, Vance came to the aid of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who finds himself torn between obeying the U.S. president and satisfying his far-right coalition partners. Netanyahu called on his Likud party to abstain: "True sovereignty" (Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, i.e., annexation) will not be achieved “through a showy law for the record, but through proper work,” the party announced.
The West Bank: A Weak Point
The U.S. knows that the West Bank, which is not even mentioned in Trump's 20-point plan, is a weak point in the overall project. As far as the Gaza Strip is concerned, the new structures envisaged in the plan must be created as quickly as possible. When it comes to the West Bank, the strategy centers on freezing and postponing. This will determine whether important Arab players, whose commitment and financial support are anticipated, stay on board.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalized its relations with Israel in 2020, refers to annexations as a “red line.” Saudi Arabia wants to see a process that will lead to a Palestinian state. Both are uncomfortable with the prominent roles that Turkey and Qatar are playing in the whole Trump project.
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