Former United States President Donald Trump on Thursday declared he would block any Israeli attempt to annex the occupied West Bank. The statement comes amid heightened international pressure and follows the recent recognition of a Palestinian state by several key Western nations.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on 25 September, Trump was unequivocal. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” he stated, adding, “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
The declaration was made as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York to address the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Netanyahu’s government, which includes far-right factions, has been facing internal pressure to annex the territory, particularly in response to the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, and Portugal recognising Palestinian statehood earlier this week.
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Diplomatic pressure and regional concerns
Trump’s decisive stance follows a concerted lobbying effort by Arab and European leaders who warned of the severe consequences of annexation. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, confirmed that the US president “understands very well” the gravity of the situation. British officials had previously expressed fears that Trump might recognise Israeli control over settlements as a retaliatory measure for the UK’s recognition of Palestine.
The potential for annexation has been a significant point of contention. About 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements are widely considered illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes. The approval of controversial settlement plans, such as the E1 project which threatens to divide the West Bank, has further fuelled international alarm.
In a related development, Netanyahu’s office instructed the Israeli military to broadcast his UN speech to residents in Gaza using loudspeakers placed on trucks on the Israeli side of the border. Trump’s firm statement that annexation is “not going to happen” adds a new dynamic to the unfolding diplomatic situation.
At the un, Netanyahu is expected to use his speech to condemn the nations that have recognised Palestine. Meanwhile, Trump mentioned that talks for a peace deal in Gaza, where a nearly two-year-long war has resulted in over 65,000 Palestinian deaths, were progressing. He affirmed his commitment to regional peace, even as he made it clear that annexation was off limits.
Image: : ‘I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,’ says Trump [BBC]
