U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Wednesday that legislative efforts by Knesset members to extend Israeli law over the occupied West Bank could jeopardize President Donald Trump’s recently brokered cease-fire deal in Gaza.
Rubio made the remarks before departing for Israel, citing concerns that such a move may destabilize the fragile truce and broader diplomatic roadmap.
Rubio said the preliminary parliamentary vote—a narrow 25-24 approval to apply Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank—was “something that we… think might be counter-productive” at this stage.
He reiterated that the White House does not support annexation right now, and warned that it could undermine the peace deal the U.S. is seeking to build with regional partners.
The warnings come amid intensified U.S. diplomatic activity in the region after two years of war between Israel and Hamas, during which the cease-fire process has been hit by repeated violations and spikes in violence.
Rubio’s trip follows a visit by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and underscores Washington’s urgent effort to shore up the deal and prevent escalation.
Annexation of the West Bank is viewed as a significant red line by multiple Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, which has warned that formal Israeli sovereignty over the territory would undermine normalization efforts and wider regional stability.
Analysts say Rubio’s intervention signals that the U.S. is aligning closer with Gulf concerns as it presses ahead with a post-war stabilization strategy.
Within Israel, the bill put forward by opposition lawmakers—and backed by far-right settlement advocates—has heightened tension within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, as he seeks to balance nationalist pressures with U.S. diplomacy and Gulf relationships.
The narrow vote reflects deep divisions over how far and when sovereignty should be expanded.
While acknowledging that Israel is a democracy and the Knesset will make its own decisions, Rubio stressed the timing is critical.
He warned that any unilateral annexation could jeopardize the implementation of the U.S.-backed framework for Gaza, which hinges on hostages’ release, prisoner swaps, phased troop withdrawals, and the creation of a Palestinian force supported by Arab nations.
Rubio added that, though “every day there’ll be threats to it,” he believes the peace process remains ahead of schedule and that the fact the truce has held signals a window of opportunity.
The United States is reinforcing its role as mediator, stressing that annexation at this juncture would risk undermining momentum and isolating Israel diplomatically.
As Rubio prepares to meet Israeli leaders, the issue of Palestinian statehood and annexation looms large.
The outcome of this visit may define not only the fate of the Gaza agreement, but also the future of Israeli–Gulf ties and Washington’s credibility as a Middle East peace broker.
