Trump pressed Netanyahu to alter Israel’s West Bank policies, reports say

President Donald Trump and his top aides asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adjust Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank during their meeting Monday in Florida, the news site Axios reported, citing a U.S. official and another informed source. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner also participated in the discussions.

U.S. Concerns Over Regional Stability

According to the report, the White House believes a surge of violence in the West Bank could undermine implementation of the Gaza peace agreement and hinder further expansion of the Abraham Accords before the end of Trump’s term. Trump and his team urged Netanyahu to avoid provocative steps and “calm things down,” specifically raising issues of settler violence against Palestinians, the financial instability of the Palestinian Authority, and continued settlement expansion.

Netanyahu’s Response and Trump’s Remarks

A source familiar with the talks told Axios that “Netanyahu spoke very strongly against settler violence and said he is going to take more action.” After the meeting, Trump told reporters that while the U.S. and Israel do not agree “100%” on the West Bank, they would “come to a conclusion” and that Netanyahu “will do the right thing.”

Background: West Bank Violence and International Law

Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,103 Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, injured nearly 11,000, and detained around 21,000 since October 2023, according to Palestinian figures. In a landmark advisory opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.