Trump Rejects Israeli Lawmakers’ Plan to Annex West Bank

Post by : Saif Nasser

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected an effort by some Israeli lawmakers to push forward with annexation of the occupied West Bank, saying Israel will “not do anything with the West Bank.” The statement came after Israeli parliament members gave preliminary approval to a bill that would apply Israeli law to the territory, a move seen as annexation.

During a visit to Israel, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Trump strongly opposes annexation and described the lawmakers’ proposal as a “very stupid political stunt.” He added that the U.S. policy is clear: the West Bank will not be annexed. Trump later confirmed his stance at the White House, saying, “Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that annexation could threaten the fragile Gaza ceasefire. He said such steps might disrupt Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, which focuses on rebuilding Gaza and promoting stability after years of conflict. Rubio and other senior U.S. officials, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, visited Israel this week to support the ceasefire, which has allowed hostage exchanges, prisoner releases, and partial troop withdrawals, although both sides have reported minor violations.

The annexation bill was introduced by a far-right opposition lawmaker and supported by ultranationalist ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. It passed its first reading in the 120-member parliament by a narrow vote of 25 to 24. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party did not support the bill, calling the vote a “political provocation” during Vance’s visit. Analysts say the bill is unlikely to progress without backing from the ruling coalition.

The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, is seen by Palestinians as part of their future independent state. International bodies, including the United Nations, consider Israeli settlements in the area illegal under international law. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers currently live in the West Bank, making it a highly sensitive issue and a major obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The proposed annexation has drawn strong criticism internationally. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, and 13 other Muslim-majority countries condemned the move, along with Arab and Islamic organizations. U.S. officials are concerned that annexation could undermine peace efforts and derail Trump’s goal of expanding the Abraham Accords, which are normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states. Saudi Arabia has stated it will not normalize relations with Israel without progress toward a Palestinian state.

Vice President Vance expressed cautious optimism about the Gaza ceasefire, saying discussions with Netanyahu and senior military officials were positive. Trump’s administration wants to focus on stabilizing Gaza and easing regional tensions rather than supporting new territorial disputes. For now, the annexation proposal appears unlikely to pass, but it highlights ongoing divisions in Israeli politics and the complex role of the United States in the Middle East.