President Donald Trump has explicitly stated that he will not permit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the West Bank, a key territory in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This declaration comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to de-escalate its actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Trump made these remarks to reporters in the Oval Office ahead of Netanyahu’s scheduled address to the UN General Assembly.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank … It’s not going to happen,” President Trump asserted, signaling a firm stance against the proposed annexation. He also indicated that a resolution for the Gaza situation was nearing completion, stating, “We’re getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza, and maybe even peace.”
The call for annexation has been echoed by ultranationalist factions within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, who view it as a strategy to counter the growing international recognition of an independent Palestinian state. However, nations like the UK and Germany have reportedly cautioned Israel against such a move. UN Secretary General António Guterres previously described annexation as “morally, legally and politically intolerable.”
President Trump’s comments followed meetings with leaders from Arab and Muslim nations who had previously warned him about the potential repercussions of Israeli annexation. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, emphasized that “the president of the US understands very well the risks and dangers of annexation in the West Bank.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly, expressing readiness to collaborate with global leaders on a peace plan for Israel and Palestine, as recently proposed by France. Abbas, who was unable to attend in person due to a U.S. travel restriction, thanked countries that have recently recognized Palestinian statehood, including Canada, Australia, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, and Denmark. He reiterated that Hamas would not have a governance role and called for a unified Palestinian state connecting Gaza and the West Bank.
The article also touches upon recent events, including the closure of the Allenby crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, impacting over two million Palestinians, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, detailing casualty figures and humanitarian concerns. It references international findings regarding the conflict and mentions actions taken by companies like Microsoft in response to the situation.