U.S. Vice President JD Vance concluded his two-day visit to Israel on Thursday with a sharp rebuke of a preliminary Knesset vote advancing West Bank annexation bills, calling the move a “very stupid political stunt” that he found personally offensive.

Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport before departing for Washington, Vance criticized the Wednesday vote—backed by far-right lawmakers despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported misgivings—as symbolic posturing that undermines U.S.-Israel cooperation. “If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it,” he said. “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel” under the Trump administration’s policy, he added.

The Knesset gave preliminary approval to two bills—one proposing full annexation, the other partial—passing 46–40 amid coalition fractures. Some Likud members broke ranks with Netanyahu, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich championed the legislation as affirming Jewish sovereignty. Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the vote as a threat to U.S. ties and ongoing Gaza ceasefire efforts. Netanyahu’s office downplayed the vote’s practical implications, but Vance dismissed it as “weird” and unhelpful.

During his visit, Vance met with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, reaffirming U.S. support for Israel while drawing a firm line against territorial expansion that could jeopardize the $3.8 billion in annual American aid. Trump administration officials have warned that annexation talk risks “losing all support.”

On Gaza, Vance expressed cautious optimism about the January ceasefire, crediting both sides for largely adhering to the agreement despite “little exceptions.” He outlined a second phase involving an international security force—led by the U.S.—tasked with disarming Hamas. The plan, he said, would require time and cooperation from Gulf allies such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, who have served as intermediaries in indirect talks with Hamas.

Israeli intelligence shared with Vance indicated that Hamas may have access to 10 of the 13 remaining hostage bodies, complicating recovery efforts. Vance also met with families of freed hostages, including Matan Angrest, who returned home this week after rehabilitation, and attended memorial events for victims of the October 7 attacks.

Looking ahead, Vance hinted at renewed U.S.-brokered normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, potentially linked to discussions on Palestinian statehood. However, Smotrich rejected such a framework, calling it outdated.

As Vance boarded Air Force Two, his remarks underscored growing U.S. frustration with Israeli domestic politics. With 2026 elections on the horizon, Israeli leaders face mounting pressure to balance internal political demands with the strategic imperative of maintaining American support.