Trump Team Opposes Israel’s West Bank Expansion Plan

The White House has reaffirmed Donald Trump’s opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank following the announcement of new Israeli plans that would facilitate increased settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Israeli Plans Expand West Bank Control

The measures, announced Sunday, include allowing Jewish Israelis to directly purchase land in the West Bank and extending greater Israeli control over areas currently administered by the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials stated the new rules, approved by Israel’s security cabinet, do not require further approval, though the timing of their implementation remains unclear.

A White House official stated Monday that “a stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region.”

More than 500,000 Israelis reside in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Approximately three million Palestinians also live in the territory.

International Condemnation

The UK has called on Israel to reverse its decision, stating, “The UK strongly condemns the Israeli security cabinet’s decision yesterday to expand Israeli control over the West Bank.” The statement added that any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic makeup of Palestine is “wholly unacceptable” and inconsistent with international law.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “grave concern” over the changes, warning they are “eroding the prospects for the two-state solution,” according to his spokesperson.

A joint statement from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey condemned the “illegal Israeli decisions and measures aimed at imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty.”

Details of the New Measures

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said the changes aim to “deepen our roots in all regions of the Land of Israel and bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”

The security cabinet decided to repeal a law dating back to Jordan’s control of the West Bank before 1967, which kept land registries confidential. They also removed a requirement for a permit from a civil administration office, making it easier for Jewish Israelis to purchase land.

The measures also propose transferring authority over building permits for settlements in Hebron – the West Bank’s largest city – from the Palestinian Authority to Israel. Additionally, Israeli control will increase over the religious sites of Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

The Palestinian presidency in Ramallah stated the move is intended to “deepen attempts to annex the occupied West Bank.”

Guterres also pointed to a recent International Court of Justice finding that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal, describing Israel’s actions as “destabilising.”

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, is scheduled to meet with Trump in the US on Wednesday.