Trump Said He Will Not Allow Israel To Annex The West Bank, Adding That "It’s Been Enough”
The announcement comes as Israeli right-wing lawmakers have been pushing Netanyahu to annex the West Bank, which Israel already illegally occupies.
In surprise remarks, US President Donald Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank.
Speaking in Washington on Thursday, Sept. 25, Trump said “it’s not going to happen” when asked by reporters if he would permit Israel to move forward with annexation.
Trump said that he had spoken to Netanyahu about it, but added he would not let annexation happen regardless.
“It’s been enough. It’s time to stop now,” Trump said.
However, he did not give details about what actions he would take to stop an annexation.
The announcement comes as Israeli right-wing lawmakers have been pushing Netanyahu to annex the West Bank, which Israel already illegally occupies.
In August, Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that work will start on building new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the settlements will “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state.
The settlement would cut off the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem and connect it with another illegal settlement in Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank, which would make a cohesive Palestinian state geographically impossible.
The International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is illegal.
It said that Israel is under an obligation to end its unlawful occupation as rapidly as possible, as well as stop building new settlements and remove existing ones from the Palestinian territory it occupies.
Meanwhile, Israel is facing increasing international criticism and pressure over its genocide in Gaza, which has now killed more than 65,502 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and its planned full takeover of Gaza City, which is in a man-made famine it created.
Just days earlier, the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal all officially recognized Palestine, saying the move is needed to keep a future with a two-state solution alive.
France also formally recognized a Palestinian state, leading a new wave of countries recognizing Palestine at the UN.
Netanyahu is expected to speak at the UN on Monday, when he is also due to meet with Trump.
Cherry Mohamed
Sofia Hou
Cherry Mohamed
