...

Logo Pasino du Havre - Casino-Hôtel - Spa
in partnership with
Logo Nextory

Vance criticises Israel's parliament vote on West Bank annexation, calls move an 'insult'

• Oct 23, 2025, 5:36 PM
9 min de lecture
1

US Vice President JD Vance criticised a symbolic vote in Israel's parliament on Thursday regarding the annexation of the occupied West Bank, calling it an "insult" that went against the Trump administration's policies.

Hard-liners in the Knesset narrowly passed a preliminary vote in support of annexing the West Bank on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while Vance was still in Israel.

The bill, which required only a simple majority of lawmakers present in the house, passed with a 25-24 vote, and sparked widespread condemnation, with over a dozen countries — including Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — rebuking it in a joint statement that called all Israeli settlements in the West Bank a violation of international law.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the "vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord."

Vance said that if the Knesset's vote was a "political stunt, then it is a very stupid political stunt."

US Vice President J.D. Vance boards Air Force Two at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, 23 October, 2025
US Vice President J.D. Vance boards Air Force Two at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, 23 October, 2025 AP Photo

"I personally take some insult to it," Vance said. "The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel."

The deputy Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Majed Bamya, told the UN Security Council on Thursday that Palestinians "appreciate the clear message" the Trump administration has sent in opposition to annexation.

Netanyahu is struggling to stave off early elections as cracks between factions in the right-wing parties, some of whom were upset over the ceasefire and the security sacrifices it required of Israel, grow more apparent.

While many members of Netanyahu's coalition, including his Likud Party, support annexation, they have backed off those calls since US President Donald Trump said last month that he opposes the move.

The United Arab Emirates, a key US and Israeli ally in the push for peace in Gaza, has said any annexation by Israel would be a "red line."

The Palestinians seek the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War, for a future independent state.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, 13 October, 2025
US President Donald Trump speaks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, 13 October, 2025 AP Photo

Israeli annexation of the West Bank would all but bury hopes for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, the outcome supported by most of the world.

Speaking at Ben Gurion airport before leaving Israel, Vance also unveiled new details about US plans for Gaza, saying he expected reconstruction to begin soon in some "Hamas-free" areas.

But he warned that rebuilding the territory after a devastating two-year war could take years.

"The hope is to rebuild Rafah over the next two to three years and theoretically you could have half a million people live (there)," he said, speaking of the Strip's southernmost city.

That would account for about a quarter of Gaza's population of roughly 2 million, 90% of whom were displaces from their homes during the fighting.

An estimated cost of rebuilding Gaza is about $53 billion (€45 billion), according to the World Bank, the UN and the European Union.

Displaced people return to Rafah, 20 January, 2025
Displaced people return to Rafah, 20 January, 2025 AP Photo

US push toward peace

Earlier this week, Vance announced the opening of a civilian military coordination centre in southern Israel where some 200 US troops are working alongside the Israeli military and delegations from other countries planning the stabilisation and reconstruction of Gaza.

The United States is seeking support from other allies, especially Gulf Arab nations, to create an international stabilisation force to be deployed to Gaza and train a Palestinian force.

"We'd like to see Palestinian police forces in Gaza that are not Hamas and that are going to do a good job, but those still have to be trained and equipped," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ahead of his trip to Israel, where he landed on Thursday.

Rubio, who is to meet with Netanyahu, has also criticised Israeli far-right lawmakers' effort to push for West Bank annexation.

Israeli media referred to the non-stop parade of American officials visiting to ensure Israel holds up its side of the fragile ceasefire as "Bibi-sitting."

The term, utilising Netanyahu's nickname Bibi, refers to an old campaign ad when Netanyahu positioned himself as the "Bibi-sitter" whom voters could trust with their kids.


Today

Two Russian military aircraft enter NATO member Lithuania's airspace, military says
• 6:12 PM
5 min
In a post on X, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda slammed what he called a "blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity."<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/two-russia
Read the article
Vance criticises Israel's parliament vote on West Bank annexation, calls move an 'insult'
• 5:36 PM
9 min
While many members of Israel's coalition support annexation, they have backed off those calls since US President Donald Trump said last month that he opposes the move.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.c
Read the article
North Korea says its latest missile tests demonstrated new hypersonic system
• 5:04 PM
7 min
At a military parade earlier this month, Kim Jong-un unveiled some of his military's newest weapons, including what appeared to be a short-range ballistic system fitted with hypersonic glide vehicles.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button
Read the article
Three La Santé inmates in custody after Sarkozy taunted and threatened in French jail
• 3:39 PM
3 min
Three inmates at La Santé prison in Paris were placed in special custody over their involvement in jeers and heckles lobbed at Nicolas Sarkozy, who is serving a jail sentence there.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://
Read the article
King Charles and Queen Camilla join Pope in historic Vatican prayer
• 3:24 PM
1 min
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the Vatican on Thursday, joining Pope Leo XIV in prayer inside the Sistine Chapel in a landmark act of unity between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.<div class="small-12 column text-
Read the article
Three men arrested in UK on suspicion of spying for Russia, Scotland Yard says
• 3:09 PM
2 min
The suspects, aged between 44 and 48, were detained at addresses in west and central London on Thursday.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/three-men-arrested-in-uk-on-suspicion-of-spying-f
Read the article
Severe winds batter New Zealand for second time in a week
• 2:31 PM
1 min
Powerful winds swept across parts of New Zealand for the second time in a week on Thursday, disrupting flights, forcing school closures, and causing widespread transport delays.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.
Read the article
NBA legend and Portland head coach Chauncey Billups arrested in FBI gambling probe
• 2:23 PM
5 min
FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials were expected to provide more information at a news conference later on Thursday.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/nba-legend-a
Read the article
British ex-soldier acquitted of murder in 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Northern Ireland
• 1:51 PM
8 min
The judge ruled on Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to convict Soldier F over the killing of unarmed civilians on 30 January 1972.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/british-ex
Read the article
Germany secures wages of 12,000 local US Army employees amid budget crisis in Washington
• 11:36 AM
2 min
The German federal government stepped in three weeks after the start of the US government shutdown.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/germany-secures-wages-of-12000-local-us-army-employees
Read the article
World chess body probes Kramnik for harassment of late grandmaster Naroditsky
• 11:14 AM
6 min
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) says it is investigating Vladimir Kramnik over his cheating accusations against Daniel Naroditsky, who died recently at the age of 29.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.e
Read the article
Pumpkins take centre stage at Germany’s biggest autumn festival
• 10:33 AM
1 min
Autumn in Germany means pumpkins take centre stage at the Klaistow farm, located about 56 kilometres southwest of Berlin.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/pumpkins-take-centre-stage-at-ge
Read the article
Irish police arrest 23 in Dublin during second evening of disorder
• 9:16 AM
2 min
Two officers were injured on Wednesday evening outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/irish-police-arrest-23-in-dublin-during-second-evening-of-disorder?
Read the article
Louvre museum director wants in-house police station to prevent smash and grab raids
• 9:15 AM
5 min
At a Senate hearing, Louvre director Laurence des Cars detailed failures in the Paris museum's security and also confirmed that she had offered to resign but the move was rejected by Culture Minister Rachida Dati.<div class="small-12 column text-center ar
Read the article
Ukraine will not cede any of its territory, Zelenskyy tells Euronews
• 9:06 AM
3 min
There will be no territorial concessions in Ukraine, the Ukrainian president said, answering Euronews' question on whether Kyiv is now being pressured into territorial concessions.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://w
Read the article
Putin supervises nuclear forces drills as sanctions mount on Russia over its war against Ukraine
• 5:09 AM
7 min
The Kremlin said as part of Moscow’s nuclear triad and drills, an intercontinental ballistic missile was test-fired from the Plesetsk launch facility in northwestern Russia, and a Sineva ICBM was launched by a submarine in the Barents Sea.<div class="smal
Read the article
Ukraine unveils upgraded 'Sea Baby' drone it says can strike anywhere in the Black Sea
• 5:00 AM
12 min
The range of the "Sea Baby" has been expanded from 1,000 kilometres to 1,500 kilometres and it can carry up to 2,000 kilograms of payload.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/ukraine-unveils
Read the article
Latest news bulletin | October 23rd, 2025 – Morning
• 5:00 AM
1 min
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this October 23rd, 2025 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https:
Read the article
Carney says Canada will double non-US exports over Trump trade tariffs and policy
• 4:18 AM
3 min
According to Carney, the decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship between the Canadian and US economies is now over.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/carney-says-canad
Read the article
US expands crackdown on narco boats with deadly strike off Colombian coast
• 4:06 AM
4 min
The US military launched its ninth strike against a drug-carrying vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing three people. Trump has backed these strikes, calling drug cartels "unlawful combatants".<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a h
Read the article
Freezing the war at current frontlines is 'a good compromise,' Zelenskyy says
• 4:01 AM
8 min
Ukraine and Europe are pushing for a ceasefire along the current frontlines as a first step towards any peace agreement. They hope that US President Donald Trump will support the idea and put more pressure on Moscow to accept it.<div class="small-12 colum
Read the article
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to regain off-site power, officials say
• 12:40 AM
6 min
Zaporizhzhia is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world and its fate amid the fighting has caused fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/ukra
Read the article
Will Russia back down from war after further EU and US sanctions?
• 12:10 AM
4 min
Moscow has denied that the latest round of sanctions by the EU and the new strict measures by Washington will have any effect on its economy or its war strategy, signalling that Russia will not back down on its invasion of Ukraine or agree to a ceasefire.
Read the article