WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he will not permit Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, delivering an unusually blunt rejection of a proposal that has drawn sharp opposition from Arab leaders and fresh attention amid international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters during a signing ceremony at the White House, adding that he had already spoken to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his stance. “It’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
The comments come as Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition faces pressure from its nationalist allies to assert greater control over the West Bank. Many had assumed Trump’s close ties with Netanyahu, and his history of backing Israeli policies, would make annexation possible. Instead, Trump has sided with Arab leaders, including the United Arab Emirates, which warned annexation would cross a “red line.”
Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza during the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three territories for a future state, while Israel’s current government remains opposed to Palestinian statehood and backs expanding settlements, which much of the international community considers illegal. More than half a million settlers now live across 130 settlements in the West Bank.
The push for annexation has grown louder as frustration mounts over Israel’s war in Gaza. This week, at least 10 countries — including Britain, France, Canada, and Australia — formally recognized Palestinian statehood, a move intended to revive the stalled peace process. Both Washington and Jerusalem have rejected the recognitions, while Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies, has stopped short of endorsing statehood but suspended some military exports.
Trump’s promise to block annexation marks a sharp break from expectations, signaling both the limits of U.S. support for Netanyahu’s government and the mounting international pressure to restart peace negotiations.