US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated tonight, October 23rd, that a preliminary Knesset vote to annex the West Bank could jeopardize efforts to end the war in Gaza. Rubio made these remarks before departing for Israel, expressing concern that such actions might undermine ongoing negotiations. "President Trump has already made it clear that we do not support such moves now," Rubio said, adding, "We are concerned about anything that might undermine what we are working on." The Knesset passed the preliminary reading of the bill to annex the occupied West Bank amidst the ongoing visit of the US Vice President to Israel. This development has raised concerns within the US administration regarding its potential impact on the fragile diplomatic efforts. Rubio's comments underscore the delicate balance the US is attempting to strike between supporting its ally, Israel, and maintaining stability in the region while seeking to de-escalate the conflict in Gaza.
