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Donald Trump warns Israel over annexing West Bank

Summary:

In a recent interview, US President Donald Trump warned Israel against annexing the West Bank, stating that Israel would lose all support from the US if such a move were to happen. Trump’s warning comes after Israeli leaders advanced two bills that pave the way for West Bank annexation. The US remains Israel’s most important military and diplomatic supporter, and Arab and Muslim countries have warned annexation of the West Bank is a red line. Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza relies on support from these countries, which makes the situation even more delicate.

What This Means for You:

  • Understand the political implications: Trump’s warning to Israel highlights the political complexities surrounding the annexation of the West Bank and the impact it would have on US-Israel relations.
  • Recognize the importance of Arab and Muslim support: Arab and Muslim countries play a critical role in Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza. Their support is crucial for maintaining stability in the region.
  • Stay informed on the evolving situation: The situation in the West Bank and Gaza is fluid and constantly changing. Stay up-to-date on the latest developments and their impact on the region and global politics.
  • Consider long-term consequences: The annexation of the West Bank could lead to further instability and conflict in the region, making it essential to consider the long-term consequences of such a decision.

Original Post:

United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Israel over annexing the West Bank in an interview, as visiting secretary of state Marco Rubio voiced confidence that a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza would hold.
Trump’s remarks made to Time Magazine by telephone on 15 October — just days after the Gaza truce plan he spearheaded took effect — but were only published on Thursday.
“It won’t happen,” Trump said when asked about calls in Israel to annex the West Bank, the Palestinian territory, which Israel has occupied since the Six-Day War in 1967.
“It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he said.

Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”

Israeli leaders advanced two bills paving the way for West Bank annexation earlier this week, leading to condemnation from US vice president JD Vance, who was in Israel at the time and who echoed Trump’s comments.
When asked if he was concerned by the votes, Trump told reporters at the White House: “Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank.”

The US remains Israel’s most important military and diplomatic supporter.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party boycotted and criticised the vote, though members of his ruling coalition support annexation.
Arab and Muslim countries, which the US has been courting to provide troops and money for a stabilisation force in Gaza — a key element of Trump’s ceasefire plan — have warned annexation of the West Bank is a red line.
In a joint statement carried by Saudi state media on Thursday, more than a dozen such states, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Türkiye, condemned the Israeli parliament’s vote.

Rubio, one of a string of top US officials to visit Israel in recent days, had warned before his arrival that the annexation moves were “threatening” to the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

But Rubio expressed confidence in the truce after meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday.
“We feel confident and positive about the progress that’s being made. We’re clear-eyed about the challenges, too,” Rubio said, just hours after Vance wrapped up his own three-day visit.
As he ended his trip, Vance hit out at the votes in Israel’s parliament in favour of examining two annexation bills, which will now be brought forward for further readings.
“If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it,” Vance said.

“The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel, the policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel, that will continue to be our policy.”

Netanyahu, standing next to Rubio after their meeting, was quick to avoid any suggestion of tension with the US, calling the US secretary of state an “extraordinary friend of Israel” and saying the back-to-back visits were part of a “circle of trust and partnership”.
Violence has surged in the West Bank since the war escalated in Gaza after Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023.
According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry, Israeli troops and settlers have killed nearly 1,000 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, since October 2023.

Over the same period, at least 43 Israelis, including members of the security forces, have died in Palestinian attacks or Israeli operations, official figures show.

Extra Information:

Read the official statement by the US Vice President JD Vance on Israel’s annexation votes and how it echoes Trump’s comments.

People Also Ask About:

  • What are the consequences of Israel annexing the West Bank? Israel would lose all support from the US, and Arab and Muslim countries have warned that it is a red line.
  • What is the current US stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict? The Trump administration’s policy is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.
  • Who supports the current US-backed ceasefire in Gaza? Arab and Muslim countries, which the US has been courting to provide troops and money for a stabilisation force in Gaza, have expressed support for the ceasefire plan.
  • Why do Arab and Muslim countries consider annexation of the West Bank a red line? Annexation of the West Bank could lead to further instability and conflict in the region, making it essential to consider the long-term consequences of such a decision.

Expert Opinion:

Trump’s warning to Israel highlights the delicate balance between regional aspirations and international support. As the US attempts to build a coalition to stabilise Gaza, the potential annexation of the West Bank could jeopardize such efforts, further complicating an already fragile situation in the Middle East.

Key Terms:

  • Donald Trump
  • Israel
  • West Bank
  • annexation
  • US support
  • Gaza ceasefire plan
  • Arab and Muslim countries
  • stabilisation force
  • JD Vance
  • Palestine conflict



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