U.S. President Donald Trump told TIME Magazine that he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, warning that if such a move takes place, Israel would lose American support.
“That will not happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries… Israel will lose all of its support from the United States if that happens,” Trump stated.
Israeli lawmakers voted on Wednesday to advance two draft bills aimed at annexing the occupied West Bank, but Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Thursday that the government would not push the vote forward at this stage, in order to support Trump’s multi-phase plan for Gaza.
The construction of Israeli settlements has expanded since 2022 under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which includes ultranationalist partners advocating for the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State and other lawmakers, including Senator Marco Rubio, have warned that any annexation attempt would jeopardize ceasefire efforts and regional peace agreements.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Knesset’s decision, asserting that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian land.
