President Trump declared on Thursday that he would not permit Israel to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This announcement followed his assurances to leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority nations during the United Nations General Assembly.
In the Oval Office, he stated unequivocally, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.” He further added, “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
These remarks were made just before a scheduled speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the General Assembly. This week, several nations had already announced their recognition of a Palestinian state.
Recently, Israeli officials had hinted that their government might annex portions of the West Bank. This suggestion was seen as a response to countries like Britain, Canada, and France recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure from his right-wing political allies to assert Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. On Sunday, a far-right minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, specifically urged the government to implement this measure “immediately.”
Sources familiar with the situation, including an Arab official, confirmed that President Trump provided these assurances regarding annexation during a meeting with representatives from Arab and Muslim-majority nations in New York on Tuesday. These individuals requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Attendees at this meeting included the President of Turkey, the Emir of Qatar, the King of Jordan, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, the Prime Minister of Egypt, and other prominent regional and Muslim leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron reported on Wednesday that during his meeting with Mr. Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly, they both concurred that Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank was unhelpful and unrelated to Hamas.
The prospect of annexation has drawn strong criticism throughout the Arab world. Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, supported by a significant portion of the international community, have consistently viewed this territory as an integral component of a future independent Palestine.
Approximately three million Palestinians reside in the West Bank, a territory under Israeli control since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Additionally, about half a million Israelis live in settlements dispersed across the region, which are widely considered illegal by Palestinians and the international community.
Unilateral annexation of any part of the West Bank by Israel would starkly highlight the diminishing prospects for a Palestinian state. However, many Palestinians argue that Israel’s existing policies in the West Bank, such as severe restrictions on their movement and construction, already constitute a de facto annexation.
Palestinian officials have pointed out that while international recognition of statehood is symbolically important, it has yet to alter the harsh daily realities faced by Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza.
On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu once again stated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He declared, “There will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River,” adding, “For years, I have prevented the establishment of this terrorist state, facing tremendous pressures at home and abroad.”
During the same meeting, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy for peace missions, presented an American plan aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that this plan includes the release of all hostages held in the territory and an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 abductions. While many hostages have since been returned, Israeli authorities estimate that 20 individuals remain alive in Gaza. Hamas has publicly stated its willingness to release all remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained that the war will not conclude until Hamas surrenders, disarms, and exiles its senior leaders — terms that Hamas has consistently rejected.
Separately, President Macron disclosed on Wednesday that he had urged Mr. Trump to exert pressure on Israel to bring the conflict to an end.
Macron recounted telling Mr. Trump during an interview with French broadcasters, “You have a prominent role to play. You, who supports peace and wants to make peace in the world.”
Catherine Porter and Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.