Israel's Unstoppable Push for Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and Beyond

Legislative momentum is building up in Israel, as the nation moves assertively to reclaim its heritage and safeguard its future through comprehensive sovereignty initiatives. These are examined here.

Legislative attempts to apply Israeli sovereignty are multifaceted, manifesting through distinct yet interconnected bills. These efforts target specific territories within Judea and Samaria, such as the Jordan Valley, broader settlement areas, and the strategic urban center, Maaleh Adumim. Beyond direct territorial claims, further proposals aim to assert national sovereignty in legal, procedural, and policy domains. All share the overarching goal of integrating these territories or strengthening national autonomy.

Intertwined Territorial Legislative Efforts

The legislative landscape reveals distinct yet overlapping approaches to direct territorial sovereignty. The seven bills concerning Judea and Samaria settlement areas all propose applying Israeli law, jurisdiction, administration, and sovereignty to "all settlement areas in Judea and Samaria." This broad strategy aims to formalize the status of Jewish communities throughout the region, typically designating the Minister of Justice for implementation.

The six Jordan Valley bills present more varied geographical definitions, ranging from "the Jordan Valley and Northern Dead Sea" to a "Greater Jordan Valley," or generally "Israeli settlements" within the region. Implementation typically falls to the Minister of Justice, though one bill names the Minister of Interior.

Two bills specifically target Maaleh Adumim, identically proposing the application of Israeli law, jurisdiction, and administration to its specific area. These bills, designating the Minister of Interior for implementation, exemplify a targeted annexation strategy for a critical urban center. These three legislative categories—broad settlement integration, strategic regional control, and specific urban annexation—demonstrate a varied yet comprehensive strategy for asserting Israeli sovereignty.

Rationales provided for Territorial Bills: Shared Roots, Divergent Emphasis

Explanatory notes for these territorial bills share core ideological tenets but diverge in primary justifications. All assert the Jewish people's historical, spiritual, and political connection to the Land of Israel, citing natural rights and Israel's Declaration of Independence. They universally aim to rectify the "discriminatory" legal status of Israeli citizens under military ordinances; currently, their civil rights are ensured only by the “Settlement Law” that has to be renewed by Knesset vote every five years to stay in force.

Jordan Valley bills predominantly champion a security and strategic imperative, portraying the region as Israel's "eastern defensive barrier." One bill even explicitly links sovereignty application to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack. Judea and Samaria bills, conversely, emphasize the historical and religious narrative, stressing return to "ancestral inheritance" and normalization for residents across the region. Maaleh Adumim bills combine both, highlighting the city's strategic location as a crucial Jerusalem connector, together with its historical and religious significance.

Interconnected Web: Cross-Referencing and Tiered Annexation

Cross-referencing between these territorial bills reveals their interconnectedness and unified objective. Explanations for some Jordan Valley bills mention "Judea and Samaria" in broader contexts, and the "similar bills" sections frequently link parliamentary proposals across categories. Maaleh Adumim bills also list a history of "identical" or "similar" proposals. This demonstrates a cohesive political will to extend Israeli sovereignty across the different areas of Judea and Samaria.

Expanding the Scope of Sovereignty: Legal, Procedural, and Policy Dimensions

Beyond direct territorial claims, other bills underscore a broader effort to reinforce Israel's national sovereignty against external pressures and within its policy domains.

• Bill on Protecting Israeli Sovereignty and Limiting Cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC): This bill aims to shield Israeli officials, security forces, and citizens from what proponents term "political and one-sided" ICC proceedings. It prohibits public and private entities from assisting the ICC against Israelis, imposing sanctions for non-compliance and restricting foreign entities that aid the ICC. It also mandates legal and diplomatic assistance for Israelis facing ICC prosecution, framing any ICC arrest as a sovereignty violation. This bill adds a defensive legal infrastructure, asserting Israel's legal autonomy and signaling determination to insulate its actions from international prosecution.

• Bill on Applying Law, Jurisdiction, and Administration in Areas under Israeli Sovereignty: This comprehensive bill represents a fundamental declaration of Israel's long-term aspirations. It proposes applying Israeli law, jurisdiction, and administration to all of Judea and Samaria within 90 days, explicitly nullifying existing security legislation. Crucially, it offers a conditional pathway to temporary and then permanent residency for non-Israeli residents, contingent on security approvals and non-involvement in terror. This bill provides a grand ideological and legal framework for complete annexation of Judea and Samaria, rooted in historical claims, defining the ultimate, sweeping territorial goal.

• Basic Law: Referendum (Amendment – Obligation to Approve Application of Sovereignty by Referendum): This bill addresses the democratic process for significant territorial changes. It mandates a national referendum to approve any government decision applying Israeli law or sovereignty to new territories, unless passed by an 80-Knesset member majority. It aims for symmetry with existing laws on ceding territory. This bill adds a procedural layer to the sovereignty debate, emphasizing the need for broad public or parliamentary consensus for such momentous decisions, acting as either a legitimizer or a hurdle.

• Bill on Strengthening the Sovereignty and Independence of the Israeli Healthcare System in Relation to World Health Organization Regulations: This bill extends the concept of sovereignty beyond territory and legal immunity to national policy. It aims to protect Israel's control over its healthcare system by mandating objections to World Health Organization (WHO) regulations that undermine Israeli governmental discretion, impose resource transfers, or risk condemnation. It also establishes a public review process for WHO documents. This bill illustrates an assertion of policy sovereignty, reflecting a desire to prevent international bodies from dictating internal health policies and signaling a broader national autonomy.

Political Leanings of the Initiators

An examination of the political affiliations of the initiators for all these bills reveals a consistent and concentrated leaning. The legislative drive for sovereignty—whether territorial, legal, procedural, or policy-related—is overwhelmingly spearheaded by Knesset members from the Likud, Religious Zionist Party, Otzma Yehudit, and Yisrael Beiteinu.

A lone Labour MK, on the other hand, initiated the referendum bill that seems to point to an understanding that sovereignty bills are going to be voted on in the Knesset. This underscores the fundamental democratic imperative that such momentous decisions—whether involving territorial expansion or concession—must ultimately reflect the will of the Israeli public, reinforcing the nation's democratic foundations.

Conclusion

The legislative efforts concerning Judea and Samaria, complemented by bills addressing the ICC, a comprehensive annexation plan, referendum requirements, and WHO relations, reveal a complex and multi-faceted pursuit of Israeli sovereignty. While distinct in their immediate targets and varied in their justifications—ranging from security, historical rights, and citizen status, to legal immunity, democratic process, and policy autonomy—these bills are deeply interconnected. Their textual and explanatory overlaps, coupled with explicit cross-referencing, illustrate a cohesive, multi-tiered strategy. Driven by a consistent political bloc, these proposals underscore a sustained and unified political will to permanently shape the legal and geographical status of these territories and to assert Israel's national autonomy in the international arena.

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Appendix: List of Referenced Bills

Jordan Valley Bills:

• Bill P/247/25

  • Initiator(s): Shlomo Karhi

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Jordan Valley and Northern Dead Sea

• Bill P/2002/25

  • Initiator(s): Danny Danon, Yuli Yoel Edelstein, Hanoch Dov Melbitsky, Nissim Vaturi, Tali Gotliv, Boaz Bismut, David Bitan, Dan Illouz, Ariel Kallner, Eliyahu Revivo, Eli Dallal, Hava Eti Attia

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Greater Jordan Valley

• Bill P/2520/25

  • Initiator(s): Ze'ev Elkin

  • Party: National Unity

  • Region: Jordan Valley

• Bill P/2888/25

  • Initiator(s): Kati Katrin Shitrit

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Jordan Valley

• Bill P/4583/25

  • Initiator(s): Dan Illouz, David Bitan, Ariel Kallner, Eliyahu Revivo, Eli Dallal, Hava Eti Attia

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Jordan Valley

• Bill P/5499/25

  • Initiator(s): Avigdor Liberman, Oded Forer, Evgeny Sova, Sharon Nir, Yulia Malinovsky, Hamad Amar

  • Party: Yisrael Beiteinu

  • Region: Jordan Valley

Judea and Samaria Bills (Specific Settlement Areas):

• Bill P/211/25

  • Initiator(s): Ariel Kallner

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

• Bill P/212/25

  • Initiator(s): Shlomo Karhi

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

• Bill P/2974/25

  • Initiator(s): Limor Son Har-Melech, Zvi Yedidia Sukkot, Almog Cohen, Itzhak Kroizer, Simcha Rothman, Zvika Fogel, Moshe Solomon, Ohad Tal

  • Party: Otzma Yehudit / Religious Zionist Party

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

• Bill P/3156/25

  • Initiator(s): Dan Illouz

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

• Bill P/5636/25

  • Initiator(s): Ohad Tal

  • Party: Religious Zionist Party

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

• Bill P/5720/25

  • Initiator(s): Eliyahu Revivo, Eli Dallal, Hava Eti Attia

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

• Bill P/5760/25

  • Initiator(s): Boaz Bismut, Galit Distel Atbaryan

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Judea and Samaria (settlement areas)

Maaleh Adumim Bills:

• Bill P/5900/25

  • Initiator(s): Avigdor Liberman, Oded Forer, Evgeny Sova, Sharon Nir, Yulia Malinovsky, Hamad Amar

  • Party: Yisrael Beiteinu

  • Region: Maaleh Adumim

• Bill P/3158/25

  • Initiator(s): Dan Illouz

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Maaleh Adumim

Broader Sovereignty Bills (Legal, Procedural, Policy):

• Bill P/5524/25 - Protection of Israeli Sovereignty and Limiting Cooperation with the International Criminal Court

  • Initiator(s): Amit Halevi

  • Party: Likud

  • Region: Legal/International (Applicable to any territory/action)

• Bill P/5738/25 - Application of Law, Jurisdiction, and Administration in Areas Under Israeli Sovereignty

  • Initiator(s): Limor Son Har-Melech, Hanoch Dov Melbitsky, Michal Miriam Woldiger, Ariel Kallner, Nissim Vaturi, Amit Halevi

  • Party: Otzma Yehudit / Likud / Religious Zionist Party

  • Region: All of Judea and Samaria

• Bill P/5290/25 - Basic Law: Referendum (Amendment – Obligation to Approve Application of Sovereignty by Referendum)

  • Initiator(s): Gilad Kariv

  • Party: Labor

  • Region: Procedural (Applicable to any territory where sovereignty is applied or ceded)

• Bill P/5372/25 - Strengthening the Sovereignty and Independence of the Israeli Healthcare System in Relation to World Health Organization Regulations

  • Initiator(s): Limor Son Har-Melech, Hanoch Dov Melbitsky, Michal Miriam Woldiger, Ariel Kallner, Nissim Vaturi, Amit Halevi

  • Party: Otzma Yehudit / Likud / Religious Zionist Party

  • Region: Policy/International (Healthcare system)

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An abridged version of this article appeared in JNS.

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