In a significant shift of US policy, President Donald Trump has publicly declared he will not permit Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, drawing a clear red line for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” President Trump stated emphatically to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. He added, “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now”.
The announcement came just ahead of Israeli PM Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The public declaration followed a private meeting on Tuesday between President Trump and leaders from key Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt, on the sidelines of the UN gathering.
During that closed-door session, Trump assured the regional leaders that he would block any Israeli annexation, a major concern for Arab states who warned that such a move would likely collapse the normalisation agreements known as the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, later confirmed that the dangers of annexation were made “very clear” to the US president, who he said understands the risks “very well”.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who also met with Trump this week, stated that the US leader agreed annexation would be counterproductive and would mark “the end of the Abraham Accords”.
The Trump administration concurrently presented a 21-point plan to Arab leaders aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
The proposal outlines a path towards a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the establishment of a new governing body in Gaza without Hamas’s involvement.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described it as a comprehensive effort to address regional concerns, though a final ceasefire agreement remains elusive.
President Trump’s firm stance on the West Bank places him in direct opposition to far-right ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition, who have intensified calls for annexation.
This push gained momentum after several Western nations, including the UK, France, and Canada, recently moved to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has previously stated that settlement expansion plans are intended to “erase” the prospect of a Palestinian state.
While analysts have questioned whether Trump will follow through on his declaration, the statement itself signals a potential recalibration of US diplomacy, balancing steadfast support for Israel with the strategic imperative to preserve relationships with Arab allies.
The outcome of this position will be tested when Trump hosts Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House next Monday.
Sources: Politico, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The New York Times