Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White House | Occupied West Bank News
Trump Opposes Israel’s Annexation of West Bank, White House Official Says
A White House official stated Monday that President Donald Trump is against Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, emphasizing that stability in the region is essential for peace.
“A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and aligns with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region,” the official said, as reported by Reuters.
The statement comes in the wake of international concern after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz announced measures on Sunday aimed at extending Israeli control over Palestinian territories. These new regulations also facilitate land acquisition for settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law.
A coalition of eight Muslim-majority countries condemned Israel’s actions in a statement Monday, claiming the measures aim to impose unlawful sovereignty over Palestinian territory. The countries—Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates—asserted that the steps taken by Israel would entrench settlement activity and accelerate the displacement of the Palestinian people.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and representatives from the United Kingdom and Spain also criticized the Israeli measures. Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, noted that such actions are “destabilizing” and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.
The UK government expressed strong condemnation of Israel’s decision to expand its control over the West Bank, calling it “wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with international law.” The UK has urged Israel to immediately reverse these actions.
This story is ongoing and further updates will follow.
