Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Netanyahu to annex West Bank

New York: U.S. President Donald Trump has declared he will not support Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, directly challenging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key figures in his ultranationalist government who have been advocating for such a move.

Trump’s unexpected statement came during a press briefing on Thursday, just one day before Netanyahu is scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“ I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope. I will not allow. It’s not gonna happen,” Trump said.

Asked whether he had discussed his plans to block any Israeli annexation attempts with Netanyahu, Trump was noncommittal.

Ultranationalists in Netanyahu’s governing coalition have repeated calls for Israel to annex the West Bank, part of the Palestinian territories, outright.

“Yeah, but I’m not gonna allow it. Whether I spoke to him or not, I’m not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank. There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now, OK?” the US president said.

Trump did not offer details of what actions he would take to prevent the possible annexation of the occupied West Bank, and analysts questioned whether the notoriously capricious US leader would change his mind.`

The UK and Germany say they have warned Israel against annexation, while UN Secretary General António Guterres said at the UN on Monday it would be “morally, legally and politically intolerable”.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had spoken to Netanyahu as well as other Middle Eastern leaders.

Addressing the UN General Assembly via video link on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he was ready to work with world leaders to implement a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians announced by France on Monday.

Abbas, 89, was barred by the US from travelling to New York to appear in person.

He thanked those countries which had recently recognised a Palestinian state in a wave of declarations that started with Canada, Australia, the UK and Portugal on Sunday, followed by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, and Denmark.

The US is currently opposed to recognising Palestine, saying such a move is a reward for Hamas.