In a major policy statement from the Oval Office, Donald Trump has directly overruled Israeli hardliners by forbidding any annexation of the West Bank. The president’s clear declaration, “It’s not going to happen,” is a significant setback for the ultra-nationalist wing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The statement was made just as Netanyahu was arriving in New York, ensuring it would become the defining issue of his visit. The Israeli leader is now in the difficult position of having his government’s agenda publicly countermanded by its most important international supporter.
Trump’s decision to overrule the hardliners appears to be the result of a successful diplomatic campaign by a coalition of concerned countries. European nations, after recognizing Palestine, had feared a retaliatory move from the US. Their lobbying, along with urgent appeals from Arab nations about regional stability, proved to be highly effective.
The policy being overruled concerns the future of the West Bank, where 700,000 Israeli settlers reside on land captured in 1967. The international community overwhelmingly considers these settlements a violation of international law and a barrier to peace.
This major policy statement is also part of a wider American diplomatic push aimed at resolving the Gaza crisis. The US has circulated a 21-point peace plan among key regional powers. Trump’s move could be interpreted as an attempt to foster a more cooperative environment for these sensitive Gaza negotiations to succeed.