President Trump's remarks on Tuesday regarding an American takeover of the Gaza Strip and the displacement of millions of Palestinians were quickly criticized as reckless and unlikely to be enacted. These comments reflect a growing trend among right-wing officials in both the United States and Israel to discuss openly the goal of seizing Palestinian land.
The future of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, has been a contentious issue in decades of failed diplomacy involving American presidents, Palestinian leaders, and Israeli prime ministers. Although hopes for a future Palestinian state have diminished, Trump's presidency has emboldened right-wing ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to advocate for Israel's complete control over the West Bank.
Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington, noted that the current Israeli government is the most right-wing in history and that no previous U.S. administration has shared these views to such an extent. Following Trump's election, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister, expressed optimism that 2025 could be the year of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
During a news conference with Netanyahu, Trump was asked about his support for Israeli annexation of the West Bank but refrained from providing a direct answer, indicating that an announcement would come in four weeks. Trump's administration has already appointed officials who align with the views of Israeli right-wing leaders.
During her confirmation hearing, Elise Stefanik, Trump's nominee for U.N. ambassador, affirmed her agreement with Smotrich's perspective on Israel's biblical rights to the West Bank. Senator Chris Van Hollen expressed concern over the dangerous alignment between American and Israeli officials regarding Palestinian self-determination.
Trump's administration has reversed sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians, aligning with the goals of ultranationalists in Israel and evangelical Christians who view the land conflict as a sign of biblical prophecy. Mike Huckabee, Trump's nominee for ambassador to Israel, has dismissed the concept of a "West Bank" and referred to Israeli settlements as neighborhoods.
The prospect of an American or Israeli takeover of Palestinian land could jeopardize Trump's aspirations for normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi government insists on steps toward Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for recognition. Following Trump's comments, the Saudi foreign ministry reiterated its unwavering commitment to establishing a Palestinian state.
Rabinovich suggested that if Trump aims for a deal with Saudi Arabia, he may be persuaded to oppose Israeli annexation of the West Bank. Netanyahu, since returning to office in 2022, has openly opposed Palestinian sovereignty and has taken steps to strengthen Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu's government has granted Smotrich significant new powers over West Bank governance, which critics argue constitutes a de facto annexation. Smotrich himself has described these actions as a means to solidify Israel's control over the territory without formally annexing it.
Recent appointments within Netanyahu's administration appear to further this agenda, including the appointment of a West Bank settler as the new ambassador to Washington. Caroline Glick, a new adviser to Netanyahu, has long advocated for the annexation of the West Bank and opposes Palestinian statehood. Despite leaving Netanyahu's government, Ben-Gvir remains a significant voice among the prime minister's supporters, expressing enthusiasm for Trump's recent statements.