The Knesset has narrowly approved the first reading of a landmark bill seeking to apply full Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria — the biblical heartland more widely known as the West Bank. The bill, formally titled “Application of Israeli Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, 2025,” was introduced by MK Avi Maoz (Noam) and passed 25–24 following intense debate. If enacted, the proposal would extend Israel’s laws, judicial authority, and administrative framework to all Jewish communities in the region, effectively ending the long-standing military governance structure. The measure now moves to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further discussion before returning for its final votes.

In his address to the plenum, Maoz declared that extending sovereignty would “correct a historical wrong” and fulfill the biblical mandate of restoring Israel’s authority over its covenant land. “Since the government has hesitated, it is our duty as Members of Knesset to act,” he said. The vote coincided with U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Jerusalem, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Education Minister Yoav Kisch praised the initiative, calling the current administration “the best one the settlement movement has ever had,” and affirmed that “the time for sovereignty legislation will also come; we will lead it together with our American partners.”

However, the move has reignited international backlash. The United Arab Emirates warned that annexing parts of the West Bank would jeopardize the Abraham Accords, while Western leaders expressed concern that the measure could destabilize fragile diplomatic progress. Despite such criticism, additional sovereignty measures are advancing. A separate bill applying Israeli sovereignty to Ma’aleh Adumim passed 32–9, reflecting growing right-wing momentum in the Knesset.

This development marks a potential turning point in Israel’s modern history — one deeply connected to the promises of Scripture concerning the land. As global powers protest, Israel’s determination to reclaim Judea and Samaria underscores a divine tension between earthly politics and biblical prophecy. While the world views sovereignty as a diplomatic controversy, Scripture portrays it as part of God’s unfolding plan for His covenant nation. The controversy surrounding the land, prophesied in Zechariah 12, continues to intensify — and with each legislative step, Jerusalem’s central role in the final prophetic drama becomes clearer.

SOURCE: Jerusalem Post