Trump declares opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly stated his opposition to Israel annexing the occupied West Bank. In an interview, when asked about recent Israeli measures in the territory, Trump said, "I am against annexation," adding, "We have enough things to think about now. We don’t need to be dealing with the West Bank."

Context of recent Israeli measures

Trump's comments come days after Israel's security cabinet approved several steps reinforcing its control in the West Bank. These include repealing a law that barred the sale of Palestinian land to Israeli individuals, unsealing land ownership records, and transferring building permit authority in a Hebron settlement bloc from Palestinian to Israeli administration. The measures also expand Israeli enforcement powers into areas designated as under Palestinian administrative control.

Background of settlement expansion

These administrative changes occur alongside continued settlement growth. Over the past three years, Israel has advanced plans for approximately 50,000 new settlement units. Since the war with Hamas began in October 2023, Israel has also confiscated around 60,000 dunams (nearly 15,000 acres) of Palestinian land. These actions have been widely condemned internationally, with the International Court of Justice ruling in July 2024 that Israel's occupation is illegal and calling for the evacuation of all settlements.

Strategic implications of Trump's stance

Trump's statement marks a notable public divergence from the current Israeli government's trajectory, which many analysts see as moving toward de facto annexation. While Trump has been a strong supporter of Israel, his pragmatic focus on other global issues appears to temper his backing for this specific, highly controversial step. For regional actors like Türkiye, which strongly opposes annexation, the U.S. president's position could introduce a significant external brake on Israeli plans.