The White House has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank, following Israel’s approval of measures that would expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. A White House official said on Monday that a stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and aligns with the administration’s goal of peace in the region.
Israel’s security cabinet approved plans on Sunday that include allowing Jewish Israelis to buy West Bank land directly and extending Israeli control over areas currently under the Palestinian Authority. The measures, which do not require further approval, also transfer authority over building permits for settlements in Hebron to Israel and increase Israeli control over religious sites such as Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs.
The UK strongly condemned the decision, calling it “wholly unacceptable” and inconsistent with international law. The UN secretary-general, António Guterres, expressed grave concern, warning that the changes erode prospects for a two-state solution. A joint statement from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey also condemned the moves as illegal.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law, alongside around three million Palestinians. 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.”
