Right-wing Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday approved the first reading of a bill to extend Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank, according to Israeli media reports. The vote took place while US Vice President JD Vance was visiting Israel. The bill must still pass three more readings and a review by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee before it can become law.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday, an Israeli government spokeswoman said. (Agencies)