It won’t happen: Trump Declared He Won’t Allow Israel to Annex the West Bank. 

In a bold move that’s sure to create waves, one month ago, Trump announced that he will stand firm against any plans for Israel to annex the West Bank!

Dr. Pamelia Riviere

“It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. And you can’t do that now. We’ve had great Arab support. It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. It will not happen. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”

“It won’t happen. It won’t happen,” Trump told Time, referring to annexation. On October 15, President Donald Trump participated in an intriguing phone interview with Time, sharing his thoughts and insights from the White House. In an interview with Time Senior Political Correspondent Eric Cortellessa, Trump discussed the complexities of the Middle East. He noted the region's extensive history and the presence of significant animosity, mistrust, and discord among its various groups. He pointed out that despite the lack of strong allies, some countries, characterized by their intelligence and wealth, have managed to collaborate on peace efforts in the Middle East. Trump emphasized that this pursuit of peace extends beyond the situation in Gaza.

Illegal Annexation in the West Bank

It appears that the aspirations of the Israeli right to extend sovereignty over portions of the West Bank may have been thwarted by US President Donald Trump, who stated that Israel would face “all support” withdrawal from the United States if it proceeded with annexation. 

These remarks, published by Time, were made by Trump during an interview on October 15, just before the Knesset advanced a bill in a preliminary vote that aimed to apply Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements, despite opposition from the prime minister. 

In the same interview, Trump claimed he had compelled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease the military operations in Gaza, asserting that the conflict could have persisted “for years” without his intervention.

 He also expressed confidence that Israel and Saudi Arabia would establish normalized relations by the year's end. Trump added, “They had a Gaza issue and an Iran issue. Now those two problems are resolved,” referring to Saudi Arabia.

 However, he provided no additional information on how this resolution might occur, especially considering Riyadh's stance that any normalization is contingent upon Palestinian statehood, which remains unacceptable to Israel, as reported by the Times of Israel.

According to the BBC, since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has established approximately 160 settlements that accommodate around 700,000 Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Roughly 3.3 million Palestinians are living in proximity to them. International law considers these settlements illegal, a stance that was reinforced by an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice last year. Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously expressed support for annexing West Bank territories. Still, he has refrained from making progress on this due to the potential repercussions of alienating the US—Israel's primary ally—and Arab nations that have fostered relations with Israel after years of hostility.

 In Netanyahu's coalition, ultra-nationalist members have persistently advocated for the full annexation of the West Bank, although legislators outside the governing body introduced the proposed bill. The bill passed with a narrow margin of 25-24. It remains uncertain if it has enough backing to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament), and the Prime Minister has options to postpone or block it. The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee will now review the bill, which must clear three additional readings before it is enacted into law. The Palestinian foreign ministry criticized the Knesset's action, asserting that Israel would not have sovereignty over Palestinian territories.

Reaction from JD Vance and Marco Rubio on the unusual vote

On Wednesday, October 23, 2025, the Knesset witnessed a peculiar moment as two bills concerning the annexation of West Bank settlements were passed. These proposals, introduced by right-wing opposition figures, aimed to either annex all West Bank settlements or, more specifically, to apply Israeli law to the major city-settlement of Maale Adumim. This move, however, faced considerable opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most members of his Likud party. 

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced their concerns, echoing the sentiments expressed by former President Donald Trump regarding potential annexation actions by Israel’s parliament. Vance described the bill's preliminary approval as a "very stupid political stunt," emphasizing the political implications of such actions. Rubio added that this annexation could undermine Trump's efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

In response to the vote, Netanyahu characterized it as a "deliberate political provocation" aimed at creating discord. Notably, his office's statement highlighted that the right-wing Likud party, along with its ultra-Orthodox coalition partners, did not support the bills, except for one disgruntled member who had recently been removed from his leadership position. This lack of Likud backing suggested the bills were unlikely to advance. The statement was released in English after a press conference held by Vance prior to his departure from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

The US’s aim is not to allow Israel to break the ceasefire in Gaza

Democracy Now! also reported that Israel's Knesset has moved forward with legislation that would effectively annex the occupied West Bank. This decision sparked rare criticism from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who left for Israel on Wednesday in an attempt to prevent the further breakdown of the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire. Rubio's visit follows trips made by Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Vance expressed that he was “personally” offended by the vote to annex, which occurred during his visit. 

Vice President JD Vance said that it was a very foolish political move, and I personally take some offence to it. Israel will not annex the West Bank. The policy of the Trump administration is that Israel will not annex the West Bank. That stance will remain our policy.

 If people wish to make symbolic votes, they are free to do so, but we were definitely not pleased about it. 

A blow in the relationship between Israel and the US 

DW News has reported a striking assertion from Donald Trump, stating that Israel would forfeit all American support should it proceed with the annexation of the West Bank. In an interview with Time, the U.S. president emphasized, "It won't happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries." This statement comes as hardline lawmakers in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, have endorsed a controversial bill aimed at extending Israeli law into the West Bank. This move effectively amounts to annexation. 

Currently, Israel occupies this region in contravention of international law, and the path to formalizing this annexation is complex, requiring three additional rounds of voting before the bill can become law. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed his discontent regarding the vote as a personal affront. "If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it," he stated firmly. He further affirmed that the Trump administration's position remains resolute: "The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy." This unexpected criticism raises questions about a potential rift between the White House and the Israeli government. 

Israel understands that it cannot afford any discord with the Americans at this critical juncture. The United States remains its most potent, most powerful, and most crucial ally. 

The Knesset has passed two bills aimed at annexing illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and one significant settlement—Alei Zahav, one of the largest in the area, situated just east of East Jerusalem. The implications of these decisions are profound, as they would effectively lay claim to the vast majority of the West Bank due to Israel's extensive territorial occupation. 

These bills now face scrutiny in committees and must still navigate three votes in the Knesset. Political analysts in Israel are skeptical of their chances of passage, largely due to anticipated pushback from the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has labelled the situation a "deliberate political provocation" by the opposition, purposefully timed to sow discord during Vice President Vance's visit to Israel. 

Netanyahu’s stance on the West Bank is an open secret

Netanyahu has attempted to distance himself from these legislative efforts, despite his long-standing support for annexation. Notably, Netanyahu has consistently articulated his belief that a Palestinian state will not emerge, asserting that this land "belongs to us." His position on the West Bank is well documented. 

However, amid this complex landscape, it is crucial to recognize that the Israeli government is acutely aware of the repercussions of severing ties with its American ally. 

This awareness has led to a cautious approach, steering away from making annexation an official policy, even as the realities on the ground showcase a troubling increase in illegal Israeli settlements and rampant settler violence, which have tragically displaced thousands of Palestinians throughout the years.

 The facts are stark: the Israelis cannot afford to make these actions official policy, primarily due to the United States' staunch opposition. Trump restated, “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.” If he remains consistent with his statement, the Gaza ceasefire won’t be disrupted by Israel. 

Pamelia Riviere is a freelance writer and analyst