WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he “will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” he told reporters in the Oval Office while signing executive orders unrelated to foreign policy. “I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen.”
Trump confirmed that he had spoken to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, adding “we’re getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza. And maybe even peace. Which would be the first time in 2,000 years. Long time.”
Trump added that he had engaged in good talks on the topic of Gaza with Middle East leaders and that a hostage deal could be secured “soon.”
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Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister would wait until he returns to Israel to address Trump’s remark. The two are set to meet next week in Washington, following the Israeli PM’s address to the United Nations on Friday.
.@POTUS: “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it.”
Possible annexation has been floated in Israel in response to a string of countries — including key U.S. allies like the United Kingdom and Canada — moving to recognize a Palestinian state. Trump said he’d spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that he’d be firm in not allowing annexation, adding, “It’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
