In what could prove to be a turning point in his Middle East policy, Donald Trump has halted any Israeli move to annex the West Bank following a global outcry from allies. The president’s decision to side with the chorus of international warnings over the ambitions of the Israeli far-right marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict.
This potential turning point comes after a period of intense anxiety in foreign capitals. Officials in the UK, France, and Australia were deeply concerned that Trump would recognize Israeli settlements as a punitive measure for their recognition of Palestine. Their diplomatic efforts, combined with those of Arab leaders, appear to have averted that scenario.
For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arriving at the UN to this news, the situation is politically fraught. He has long balanced the demands of his nationalist base with the need to maintain strong ties with the US. Trump’s public veto now forces this balancing act into a crisis.
The issue at the heart of this global outcry is the future of the West Bank, where 700,000 settlers live. Annexation is widely seen as the final act in dismantling the possibility of a two-state solution, a framework that has underpinned international diplomacy for decades.
This apparent shift is also occurring as the US is intensely focused on mediating an end to the Gaza war. The administration has proposed a 21-point plan to end the devastating conflict. By halting annexation, Trump may be signaling a more pragmatic approach aimed at building the consensus needed to achieve a breakthrough on Gaza.