Trump to Israel’s Far-Right: Annexation Dream is Over

Donald Trump has effectively told Israel’s far-right that their dream of annexing the West Bank is over, at least with US support. In a blunt statement, the president said he “will not allow” such a move, a direct blow to ultra-nationalist figures in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government who see annexation as a way to foreclose any possibility of a Palestinian state.
The announcement places Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was arriving in New York for a UN speech, in an extremely delicate position. He is now caught between the expansionist demands of his coalition partners, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and the clear prohibition from his administration’s greatest ally.
This decisive US stance appears to be a direct consequence of a powerful international lobbying campaign. Allies like the UK and France had been deeply worried that Trump would recognize Israeli settlements in retaliation for their recognition of Palestine. Their diplomatic efforts, combined with warnings from Arab states about regional chaos, seem to have successfully shifted US policy.
The West Bank remains the geographical and political heart of the conflict. The presence of 700,000 Israeli settlers has created a landscape that many believe makes a contiguous Palestinian state impossible. The international community widely condemns the settlements as illegal, a position Israel disputes, citing historical and security claims.
This significant development is set against the backdrop of a major US push for a Gaza peace deal. A 21-point plan has been shared with regional powers to end the nearly two-year war that has devastated the territory. Trump spoke hopefully of a resolution, stating that recent talks were focused on returning hostages and establishing a durable peace to end the conflict and its catastrophic human cost.