The Israeli legislature advanced a bill calling for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, amid U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel.

The Knesset approved legislation for Israel to apply “sovereignty” over the Palestinian territory in a preliminary vote, narrowly passing with 25 members for and 24 against. The move is the first in a series of votes required for a bill to become law in the state.

Israeli media reports that members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party, Likud, were opposed to the legislation, viewing it as a way to snub Netanyahu as his government already takes moves to annex the West Bank.

Indeed, the vote was timed to coincide with a visit by Vance and members of Trump’s top Middle East advisers, including special envoy Steve Witkoff a

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