I will not allow Israel to annex occupied West Bank: Trump

WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has declared that Israel will not be allowed to annex the occupied West Bank, a position that directly contradicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners who have long pushed for annexation.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ahead of Netanyahu’s arrival in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly, Trump made his stance clear.

“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope. I will not allow. It’s not gonna happen,” he said.

When asked whether he had discussed the matter with Netanyahu, Trump remained vague. “Yeah, but I’m not gonna allow it. Whether I spoke to him or not, I’m not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank. There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now, OK?”

Trump did not specify what measures he would take to prevent annexation, prompting analysts to question whether the often unpredictable president could change course later.

His comments set the stage for a potential confrontation with Netanyahu’s government, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right leader who lives in an illegal settlement and has been spearheading annexation proposals. Smotrich also oversees settlement affairs under Israel’s Ministry of Defence.

Smotrich and other ultranationalist figures in Netanyahu’s coalition have strongly opposed any effort to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, warning they would collapse the government if a deal is signed.

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Last month, Smotrich announced a major plan for expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the project would “finally bury the idea of a Palestinian state”.

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank have expanded since 1967, fragmenting Palestinian land with roads and infrastructure under Israeli control. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that all settlements are illegal, ordering Israel to dismantle them and return the land to Palestinians.

Israel’s dependence on US financial, military and intelligence support makes Trump’s remarks significant, as any policy reversal could destabilise Netanyahu’s coalition, which leans heavily on far-right support.

On Gaza, Trump briefly described the humanitarian situation as “really bad, very bad”. While hinting at a possible peace deal “soon”, he offered no details beyond saying that “very, really good talks” had been held with Arab leaders and Netanyahu.

Earlier this week, Trump met with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, Indonesia and Pakistan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss an end to Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza.