Marco Rubio says bill passed by rightwing MPs to establish Israeli sovereignty over occupied territories ‘threatens’ peace deal
The parade of senior US officials travelling to the Middle East in recent weeks is a clear warning from the White House to Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli political factions to not disrupt the recent Gaza ceasefire – including by an annexation of the West Bank – or face a serious rift in relations with the US.
As the shaky ceasefire came into effect last week, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner quickly rushed to the region for consultations.
Now they have been followed by secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice-president JD Vance as Trump deploys his top allies to tamp down on internal strife within Israel’s fractious Knesset.
One of two bills recently passed by rightwing MPs, despite the objections of Netanyahu and most of his Likud party, would establish Israeli “sovereignty” over the occupied territories in the West Bank – effectively ending the prospect of a two-state solution.
