Donald Trump made a stunning and decisive declaration from the White House, effectively vetoing any potential Israeli annexation of the West Bank. The move came as a surprise to many, given his administration’s traditionally strong pro-Israel stance. “Nope, I will not allow it,” Trump told reporters, a direct rebuff to the Israeli far-right politicians who have been championing the extension of Israeli sovereignty over the contested territory.
This announcement represents a significant policy clarification and a potential turning point in the region’s dynamics. It directly addresses the fears of several key US allies, including the United Kingdom and France, who had been bracing for the opposite. These nations worried Trump would recognize Israeli control over the settlements as a punitive response to their decision to recognize a Palestinian state, a fear that prompted an urgent diplomatic intervention.
Arab leaders also played a crucial role, meeting with Trump at the United Nations to express their profound alarm over the prospect of annexation. They warned of severe and destabilizing consequences, a message that, according to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Trump fully comprehended. This successful lobbying campaign highlights the complex web of interests the US must navigate in its Middle East policy.
The West Bank itself remains a flashpoint, with around 700,000 Israeli settlers living on land that Palestinians envision for their future nation. These settlements, considered illegal by the majority of the international community, continue to expand, with projects like the E1 plan threatening to make a two-state solution physically impossible by cutting off East Jerusalem from the West Bank.
The timing of Trump’s statement is also closely tied to a new American push for peace, centered on a 21-point plan to end the devastating war in Gaza. Trump confirmed he had spoken with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Middle Eastern leaders about the plan, expressing optimism that a deal to return hostages and bring peace could be reached soon, despite the conflict’s grim toll of over 65,000 Palestinian lives and a worsening famine.