President Trump has issued a stark warning to Israel, suggesting that it risks losing all U.S. support if it proceeds with plans to annex parts of the West Bank. This comes as the Israeli government is pushing forward legislation to formally assert sovereignty over its settlements in the area.
In a recent Time magazine interview, Trump indicated that U.S. financial assistance could be halted if Israel moves ahead with annexation. “If that happens, Israel will lose all support from the United States,” he stated firmly.
He further elaborated, “It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen because I promised Arab countries. And it can’t happen now. We have received great support from the Arabs. That will not happen because I have promised the Arab countries. That will not happen.”
Following Trump’s warning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed similar sentiments before his visit to Israel, stating that annexation could jeopardize the ceasefire agreement recently reached between Israel and Hamas.
Rubio mentioned in a press meeting, “I think the president has made it clear that that’s not something we support at this point. We think this could threaten the peace agreement.” He traveled to Israel to check in on the U.S. military operations managing the ceasefire.
As the Israeli government advanced two annexation bills on Wednesday, Rubio pointed out that the U.S. views the passage of these bills through Congress as “counterproductive.”
“I mean, they’re a democracy, they have the right to vote, people are going to take these positions, but that’s not particularly for us at this point. We think it could backfire,” he explained.
As part of this discussion, Vice President Vance also expressed his concerns, suggesting that if the Knesset vote was merely a “political stunt,” it would be rather foolish. “Personally, I feel a little insulted by this,” he remarked, emphasizing that the Trump administration’s stance is clear: the West Bank should not be annexed by Israel.
