“I will not allow it. It’s not gonna happen.”
President Donald Trump made a striking declaration this week, stating he will block any Israeli attempt to annex the occupied West Bank. The statement came ahead of Israeli PM Netanyahu’s arrival in New York for the UN General Assembly.
- Trump’s remarks directly challenge Israel’s far-right coalition, which has pushed for formal annexation of Palestinian territories.
- He did not specify how he would prevent annexation, nor confirm whether he had discussed the matter with Netanyahu.
- Analysts, including Mouin Rabbani from the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, called the statement “positive” but warned that Trump’s unpredictability makes follow-through uncertain.
Israeli Push for Annexation
- In July, the Israeli Knesset passed a non-binding motion (71–13) supporting annexation.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the push, resides in an illegal settlement and oversees settlement administration.
- Smotrich has also threatened to collapse the government if a Gaza ceasefire deal is reached.
- Trump’s stance may put his administration on a collision course with Netanyahu’s government.
- The move comes as several countries including Australia, France, and Canada prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood.
- Settlement expansion continues, with plans to build thousands of homes in contested areas, further complicating peace prospects.
(Source – Al Jazeera)
—Agencies
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