Jewish ministry criticizes Trump admins' stance regarding Israel's annexation vote

Before he departed Jerusalem, Vice President JD Vance criticized the Israeli Knesset for voting to annex the territory of Judea and Samaria, known as the West Bank. According to the AP, Vance said that if the Knesset vote was a "political stunt, then it is a very stupid political stunt."

Admin split on annexation? Former congresswoman Michele Bachmann said on Washington Watch Thursday there seems to be some disagreement within the Trump administration on whether Israel should annex Judea and Samaria, often called the West Bank. “It was only maybe two months ago that Secretary of State Rubio was in Israel, and he had made the statement that it's up to Israel. If they want to extend sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, they can." She says Israel doesn't have to annex the region, because it's already their land. “Israel has controlled Judea-Samaria since 1967. They won it in the Six-Day War, just like they won Gaza in the Six-Day War.” But Bachmann found it galling that Vice President J.D. Vance would suggest the U.S. has any control over Israeli politics. “It's quite a shocking statement to come out of the Trump administration to tell another country, you're not allowed to extend sovereignty over your own land.”          Steve Jordahl

"I personally take some insult to it," Vance went on to say. "The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the Knesset vote giving preliminary approval to a bill that would give Israel authority to annex the West Bank — a move the U.S. opposes. Furthermore, he says that Trump has made his stance in not supporting this move clear.

So far, the bill passed in a preliminary vote of 25-24 in favor. However, that does not guarantee that the bill will be able to pass with a majority vote when presented to the 120-seat parliament.

Jan Markell is the founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries.

 "According to a Times of Israel's story, apparently Israel — according to President Trump — would lose all U.S. support if Israel annexes the West Bank, otherwise known as Judea and Samaria," informs Markell.

Markell says that this was clearly a mistake.

"This is an indication that our leadership, including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and others involved, other than Mike Huckabee, really don't know the Bible. Because if they knew the Bible, they would know that all of this land belongs to Israel,” states Markell. “So why are we making silly statements?" 

Markell thinks that, by and large, the American people would not be in support of the President's position.