Bowing to significant international pressure, Donald Trump has forbidden Israel from moving forward with any plans to annex the West Bank. His firm statement, “Nope, I will not allow it,” marks a pivotal moment in his administration’s Middle East policy, directly addressing the concerns of European and Arab allies who had lobbied intensely against such a move.
The decision provides a sense of relief in capitals like London and Paris, where officials had feared Trump would take the opposite approach. There was concern that, in retaliation for their recognition of Palestine, the US President would recognize Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements. This fear prompted a diplomatic scramble that now appears to have succeeded.
For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the timing is particularly challenging. Arriving in New York for a UN address, he is now publicly at odds with his main ally on an issue central to his far-right coalition partners. This public US opposition complicates his political maneuvering at home, where figures like Bezalel Smotrich have been pushing for annexation.
The West Bank is a focal point of the conflict, with approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers living on land captured in 1967. The international community, with few exceptions, considers these settlements illegal and a barrier to a two-state solution. Israel’s continued expansion, including the approval of the E1 plan, has been widely condemned for undermining peace prospects.
This policy clarification comes as the US is actively trying to mediate an end to the nearly two-year Gaza war. A new 21-point peace plan has been proposed to regional powers. Trump indicated that his discussions with all parties were productive, emphasizing the urgent need to bring hostages home and establish peace in a region devastated by a conflict that has killed over 65,000 Palestinians.