US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Wednesday that votes in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on bills aimed at further expanding Israel’s sovereignty over larger areas of the West Bank risked “threatening” the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

“I think the president (U.S. Donald Trump) has made it clear that this is not something we can support at this time,” Mr. Rubio told reporters as he departed for Israel, where he is expected today, noting that potential annexation would “threaten” the ceasefire and would be “counterproductive.”

The Knesset yesterday advanced two bills aimed at expanding Israeli sovereignty over more of the occupied West Bank, amid a visit by US Vice President Jay D. Vance.

US President Trump, a major ally of Israel who supported it in its war with Hamas, says he opposes Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, a plan strongly supported by the Israeli far right.

The members of the Israeli parliament have preliminarily approved the two bills, in a vote that now allows them to be examined and approved in principle.

In August, the Israeli government approved a key plan to build 3,400 more properties for settlers in the West Bank, denounced by the UN and foreign leaders.

“It’s a democracy, they’re going to vote,” Mr. Rubio commented.

“But right now, it’s something that, in our view, could be counterproductive,” he added.

Asked about the new resurgence of violent attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, the US Secretary of State said that “we are concerned about anything that threatens to destabilize the fruit of our efforts.”

Mr. Rubio goes to Israel on the heels of Vice President Vance, who appeared generally optimistic about keeping the cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip in place.

That deal, which came into force on October 10 and is based on a plan by Mr Trump, was threatened on Sunday after deadly incidents and exchanges of blame on both sides for ceasefire violations.

“Every day there will be threats” to the deal, “but I think we’re actually moving on schedule to implement it and the fact that we got through this weekend is a good sign,” Mr. Vance said.

Washington continues to want talks with Russia

At the same time, he assured that the US government still wants talks with that of Russia, despite the cancellation of President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Budapest and the imposition of sanctions on Russian oil groups a few hours earlier.

“We are always willing to meet with the Russians,” Secretary of State Rubio told reporters. “We are always interested in dialogue if there is a possibility to reach peace” in Ukraine, he added.