Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in the United States was met with unwelcome news from his closest ally, as President Donald Trump publicly declared he would not permit the annexation of the West Bank. The timing of the announcement ensured that this difficult message would be the first thing on the Israeli leader’s agenda.
This unwelcome news creates a major political and diplomatic challenge for Netanyahu. He must now navigate his visit to the UN while managing the fallout from this public disagreement with the US, which directly undermines the position of his far-right coalition partners.
The news was delivered after a period of intense international diplomacy aimed at convincing Trump to take this very stance. European and Arab nations had warned that US acquiescence to annexation would be a historic mistake with “grave consequences.” Trump’s statement indicates he was persuaded by their arguments.
The content of the unwelcome news concerns the future of the West Bank, where 700,000 Israeli settlers live. The policy of annexation is a top priority for Israeli nationalists but is seen as a violation of international law by most of the world.
This difficult message on the West Bank is also part of a broader American strategy that includes a major push for a peace deal in Gaza. By delivering this tough news to Israel, the Trump administration may be trying to demonstrate its impartiality to Arab partners whose support is needed to make progress on the 21-point Gaza plan.