Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Knesset vote on annexing the Gaza Strip was a “deliberate political provocation” by the opposition.

The statement noted that the opposition’s actions were intended to stir division during the visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Israel.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset passed a preliminary reading of a bill proposing the annexation of the West Bank. According to Israel’s Channel 12, 25 members voted in favor of the bill, while 24 opposed it. The decisive vote came from former Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein.

Netanyahu’s office clarified that the bills were introduced by opposition members and that Likud and religious parties—the main components of the ruling coalition—did not support them. Without Likud’s backing, the statement added, it is unlikely the bills will advance.

Israeli Army Radio quoted coalition chairman Ofir Katz as saying that Netanyahu instructed not to promote any further legislation related to sovereignty in the West Bank.

Channel 12 also reported that the ruling coalition has suspended all sovereignty-related legislation in the West Bank until further notice.