In a significant alignment with the global consensus, Donald Trump has declared his opposition to Israel’s potential annexation of the West Bank. His statement that he “will not allow it” brings the US position in line with that of most of the world, which views such a move as a violation of international law and a death blow to the two-state solution. The decision directly challenges the Israeli far-right’s agenda.
The timing of the announcement placed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an awkward position upon his arrival in New York for the UN General Assembly. He must now craft a response that satisfies both his nationalist coalition at home and his most critical ally abroad. Trump’s public declaration marks a clear boundary that the Israeli government will find difficult to cross.
This policy clarification follows a period of intense lobbying from a broad coalition of countries. Fearing Trump would retaliate for their recognition of Palestine, key European allies urged restraint. Simultaneously, Arab nations delivered a unified message about the “grave consequences” of annexation, a warning that Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Trump understood “very well.”
The context for this diplomatic showdown is the reality of 700,000 Israeli settlers living in communities across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements are a primary source of conflict, physically impeding the creation of a contiguous and sovereign Palestinian state. The approval of the E1 plan, which would bisect the West Bank, is a recent and potent example of this ongoing issue.
This move is also part of a broader American peace initiative aimed at the Gaza Strip. The US has presented a 21-point plan to end the nearly two-year conflict that has devastated the region. Trump expressed optimism following talks with Middle Eastern leaders and Netanyahu, focusing on the return of hostages and the establishment of a lasting peace to end the conflict that has claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives.