President Donald Trump warned that Israel risks losing U.S. support if it moves to annex the occupied West Bank, as Washington pushes to enforce a Gaza ceasefire and advance its broader Middle East peace plan.
Trump’s comments, published in Time magazine’s feature “How the Gaza Deal Got Done,” come amid mounting calls from right-wing members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to formally annex the territory — a step seen as preempting the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
“It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” Trump told Time. “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”
U.S. Pushes Peace Efforts Amid Israeli Vote
Trump’s remarks were made shortly before Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, narrowly passed an initial vote — by just one vote — in favor of annexing parts of the West Bank. The measure represents the first stage in a four-step legislative process.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance condemned the move, calling it “antithetical” to Washington’s peace efforts, which include enforcing a ceasefire in Gaza’s two-year war, securing the return of Israeli hostages, and rebuilding the devastated enclave.
New poll shows most Americans back US recognition of Palestinian state
Netanyahu halted humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza briefily, accusing Hamas of failing to return the bodies of deceased hostages as agreed under the ceasefire terms.
Trump’s Peace Plan and Regional Goals
Trump unveiled his new Middle East peace plan last weekend in Cairo, attended by regional leaders. The plan does not explicitly endorse the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state but seeks to stabilize Gaza and normalize relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
In the Time interview, Trump expressed optimism about a potential breakthrough between Israel and Saudi Arabia, saying Riyadh was prepared to normalize ties if there was an end to the Gaza conflict and a credible path toward Palestinian sovereignty.
“I think Saudi Arabia is going to lead the way,” Trump said. “We don’t have the Iran threat anymore. We don’t have any threats anymore. We have peace in the Middle East.”
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Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
