Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Israel to annex West Bank after lobbying from allies Donald Trump has declared that he will not permit Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, a statement that breaks sharply with calls from some Israeli far-right leaders and comes after intense lobbying from U.S. allies. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump delivered an unusually firm rejection of annexation, stating: “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen. There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.” The comments follow weeks of speculation that Trump, who has maintained a close relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, might move to endorse or tacitly allow Israeli sovereignty over the territory. Such a step would have dramatically undermined prospects for a two-state solution and further destabilized an already fragile region. According to British officials, there were fears inside London that Trump could recognise Israeli control over the West Bank as a retaliatory gesture after the UK, Australia, France and several other allies formally recognised Palestinian statehood earlier this month. Diplomats familiar with the matter said those governments undertook a coordinated campaign of quiet but urgent lobbying in Washington, warning that any U.S. endorsement of annexation would isolate the United States and shatter hopes of building consensus around future peace negotiations. Senior European envoys reportedly stressed to the White House that annexation would amount to a “fatal blow” to the two-state framework, a model still supported by much of the international community as the only viable pathway to lasting peace. Trump’s remarks will be seen as a significant setback for Israeli ultranationalists who have long pressed for permanent sovereignty over the West Bank, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and remains at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Netanyahu himself has stopped short of formally calling for annexation in recent months, members of his governing coalition have repeatedly floated the idea as a way of consolidating Israel’s hold over the territory. Palestinian leaders cautiously welcomed Trump’s declaration, with one senior official telling Reuters that the statement was “a necessary step” but warning that “we must see if actions follow words.” The Palestinian Authority has frequently accused Washington of bias toward Israel, pointing to Trump’s earlier decisions to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and cut aid to Palestinian agencies. In Israel, reaction was mixed. Right-wing politicians expressed disappointment and accused Trump of caving to international pressure. Centrist and left-leaning figures, however, praised the U.S. president for setting limits and protecting the possibility of renewed peace talks. Analysts note that Trump’s calculus may be influenced by his broader foreign policy agenda, which has increasingly emphasized stability and avoiding fresh escalations in the Middle East as he balances multiple global crises. At the United Nations last week, Arab leaders had also pressed Washington not to sanction annexation, warning it could trigger unrest across the region. Jordan, which maintains a fragile peace treaty with Israel, has consistently opposed any moves to alter the West Bank’s status without a negotiated settlement. The West Bank, home to nearly three million Palestinians and over 400,000 Israeli settlers, remains one of the most contentious pieces of disputed land in the world. Any move toward annexation would likely trigger international condemnation and possibly sanctions. Trump’s clear rejection marks a rare moment where his administration appears aligned with European allies and the broader international consensus, even as his foreign policy has often diverged from theirs on other Middle Eastern issues. Still, questions remain over whether the president will sustain this stance if pressured by Israeli leaders or if domestic political considerations shift. Trump himself left open the possibility of revisiting the issue, saying only that “for now, annexation is off the table.” For now, diplomats say the focus will turn back to whether Washington can leverage Trump’s statement into momentum for renewed peace talks — a prospect many remain skeptical about given the long history of failed negotiations. What is clear, however, is that Trump’s public disavowal of annexation represents a moment of relief for allies who feared that yet another destabilizing move could push the region closer to perpetual conflict. politics

Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Israel to annex West Bank after lobbying from allies

Donald Trump has declared that he will not permit Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, a statement that breaks sharply with calls from some Israeli far-right leaders and comes after intense lobbying from U.S. allies. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump delivered an unusually firm rejection of annexation, stating: “I […]

Trump signs order declaring TikTok sale ready and values it at $14 billion politics

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