Knesset Declares Support for Israeli Sovereignty Over Judea, Samaria, and Jordan Valley in Landmark Vote

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – In a decisive political statement, the Israeli Knesset voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favor of a non-binding resolution declaring support for the application of full Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley — territories comprising what is internationally referred to as the West Bank. The symbolic resolution passed 71-13, reflecting wide backing among the governing coalition and some members of the opposition.

The declaration affirms that these territories are “inseparable parts of the Land of Israel–the historic, cultural and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people,” and urges the Israeli government to begin the process of applying sovereignty, law, and administration across all Jewish communities in these areas.

“The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel–yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever,” said MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), one of the resolution’s sponsors, during the Knesset debate. “This decision reflects our yearning and demand to realize the return to Zion and calls on the Israeli government to act swiftly to make this vision a reality.”

The resolution was co-sponsored by lawmakers from Likud, Shas, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Noam, Yisrael Beiteinu, and others. While non-legally binding, the vote is considered a significant symbolic milestone, signaling a rightward policy shift and growing public support for formalizing Israeli control over the contested territories.

The motion’s text cites the October 7 Hamas massacre during Simchat Torah as a turning point, arguing that it proved the creation of a Palestinian state would be an existential threat to Israel. It also refers to historical Jewish presence in ancient cities like Hebron, Beit El, Shiloh, and Shechem (Nablus), where the patriarchs and prophets of Israel lived and worshiped.

MK Dan Illouz (Likud), speaking in English for international audiences, said, “Today for the first time ever, the Israeli Knesset is expressing support for sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. These are not bargaining chips–they are the heart of our ancestral homeland. Sovereignty is the image of victory.”

The resolution calls on allies around the world to stand with the Jewish people’s return to Zion and support Israel’s “natural, historical, and legal right” to the land. It follows similar legal arguments advanced by Israel in recent years, rejecting international claims of occupation and asserting that no prior legal sovereign controlled the West Bank before 1967.

Supporters of the resolution, including Yisrael Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Regional Council, hailed it as a “significant milestone” and urged the government to act. “We are at a historic juncture,” Ganz said. “The approval of the proposal proves the broad support of the people of Israel for sovereignty. Now we must implement it.”

Opposition parties, including Yesh Atid and the National Unity Party, boycotted the vote, while 13 lawmakers from Arab and far-left factions voted against. Opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed the move as a distraction from internal political battles, including the controversial dismissal of MK Yuli Edelstein as chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over his opposition to draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Israelis.

“The coalition’s attempt to inflate a procedural motion–an event with no legal significance–is a pathetic and ridiculous effort to divert attention from the political reality,” Lapid said.

Despite its declarative nature, the resolution comes amid increasing calls from Israel’s nationalist bloc to take irreversible steps toward sovereignty in the wake of regional instability. Half a million Israeli settlers currently live in Judea and Samaria, primarily in Area C, which remains under full Israeli control per the Oslo Accords.

While most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be in violation of international law, Israel has long maintained that its claims to the land are both historic and legal. A 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice deemed the Israeli presence “no longer temporary,” calling it unlawful–an assessment rejected by Israeli leaders.

As the government weighs its next moves, Wednesday’s vote is seen by many as a litmus test of national will. “This is the time to act,” said MK Rothman. “We cannot defeat Hamas in Gaza while keeping Judea and Samaria in question. The future of Israel depends on clarity and courage.”

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