Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, according to a White House official. The official said on Monday that maintaining a stable West Bank is essential to Israel’s security and aligns with the administration’s goal of achieving peace in the region, Reuters reported.
The comments came amid international outrage after Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, and defence minister, Israel Katz, announced new measures extending Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory.
The measures would also make it easier for Israelis to acquire land for new settlements, which are illegal under international law. Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, condemned the move, saying it was aimed at imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty and accelerating illegal annexation
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with the United Kingdom and Spain, also denounced the actions, warning they were destabilising and damaging “prospects for a two-state solution.”
Bezalel Smotrich (right) during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Israeli parliament in November 2022. Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA
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