The Trump administration has expressed its disapproval following Israel's recent announcement regarding plans to enhance its control over the West Bank. A representative from the White House reaffirmed Donald Trump's stance against any annexation of this territory after Israel revealed intentions that would facilitate the expansion of settlements in areas that are internationally recognized as occupied Palestinian land.
The newly introduced measures, disclosed on a Sunday, comprise provisions that would permit Jewish Israelis to acquire land directly in the West Bank, while also expanding Israeli authority in regions where the Palestinian Authority currently holds sway. Although it remains uncertain when these new regulations, which have already received the green light from Israel’s security cabinet, will be implemented, they do not require any further approvals.
As various countries and regional entities condemned this initiative, a White House official reiterated on Monday that "a stable West Bank is vital for Israel's security and aligns with this administration’s objective of fostering peace in the region."
Currently, over 500,000 Israeli settlers reside in settlements across the West Bank, which are deemed illegal under international law, alongside approximately three million Palestinians living in the same area.
Earlier, the United Kingdom voiced its strong opposition to Israel's decision, stating: "The UK firmly condemns the Israeli security cabinet’s resolution to expand Israeli control over the West Bank. Any unilateral efforts to alter the geographical or demographic landscape of Palestine are entirely unacceptable and contradict international law. We urge Israel to retract these decisions at once."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with Trump in the United States on Wednesday, further emphasizing the significance of this issue.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep concern regarding these developments, indicating that they could undermine the potential for a two-state solution—an approach often seen as a pathway to peace by many in the international community.
The West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, is considered a crucial area for any prospective Palestinian state; however, many right-wing religious groups in Israel regard it as part of their historical homeland.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister, commented on Sunday that the amendments were intended to "strengthen our roots throughout all parts of the Land of Israel and eliminate the concept of a Palestinian state altogether."
Guterres characterized Israel’s actions as "destabilizing" and referenced findings from an international court of justice that declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.
In a united front, a statement from Saudi Arabia, which included support from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, vehemently condemned what they described as illegal Israeli actions aimed at enforcing unlawful sovereignty over these lands.
In a joint statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Smotrich shared insights on the decisions made by the five-member security cabinet, although the complete details of these decisions were not fully disclosed.
The security cabinet resolved to abolish a regulation from the period of Jordanian governance over the West Bank prior to 1967, making land registries accessible to the public instead of confidential, and eliminating the necessity for permits from a civil administrative office. They asserted that these changes would facilitate Jewish land purchases in the West Bank.
Additionally, the Israeli reforms propose transferring authority over building permits for settlements in Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, from the Palestinian Authority to Israeli control.
Moreover, the reform enhances Israeli governance over two significant religious sites located in southern West Bank: Rachel's Tomb, situated near Bethlehem, and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
The Palestinian presidency in Ramallah, which maintains limited jurisdiction over certain areas of the West Bank, criticized the move as an effort to intensify the annexation of the occupied territory.
