Coalition minister, MK lead protest outside cabinet meeting, calling for West Bank annexation

By Sam Sokol 23 November 2025, 1:31 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Minister of Education Yoav Kisch attends a demonstration calling for Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and opposing a Palestinian state, outside the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, November 23, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Education Minister Yoav Kisch (Likud) and Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) attend a protest outside of today’s government meeting demanding the annexation of the West Bank.

“There must not, under any circumstances, be a Palestinian state. I’m saying this as clearly as I can,” declares Kisch.

“More than that, we must advance sovereignty,” he continues, standing next to a sign that says: “Don’t upset God. Don’t go up against the Bible. Judea-Samaria-Gaza belong to the Jewish people!”

“Right now is an opportunity. There is an opportunity here at home. We must convey this message and act on it,” Kisch declares. “I think this is the best answer to all those who talk about this delusion called a Palestinian state. It is dangerous to Israel’s security, contrary to historical justice and to our right to the land… and we will establish one state, as the prime minister said, between the Jordan and the sea — and that is the State of Israel,” he says before heading into the gathering.

“The people demand it. Every poll shows it. The Knesset has affirmed it. It’s time for the government to do it… We must make sure that no Palestinian state is created and that the territories of Judea and Samaria are under the sovereignty of the State of Israel, not only through military control but through applying sovereignty on the ground itself,” says Rothman, using the Biblical terms for the West Bank.

“Today a government decision on applying sovereignty could be issued. It is in the hands of the government, and that is what we need to do,” he adds.

Most of the international community considers Israel’s control of the West Bank an illegal occupation and US President Donald Trump has said he won’t let Israel annex the territory that the Palestinians claim for a future state.