In an unexpected move, Donald Trump has erected a major barrier on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s path toward annexing the West Bank. The president’s firm declaration that “it’s not going to happen” creates a formidable obstacle for the Israeli leader and his far-right coalition partners.
This barrier was put in place as Netanyahu was arriving in the US for a UN speech, fundamentally changing the landscape of his visit. He must now find a way to navigate around this new reality, with his most powerful ally now standing in the way of his government’s key policy objective.
The construction of this barrier appears to have been prompted by a successful lobbying effort from a host of international actors. European allies, worried about a punitive US reaction to their recognition of Palestine, joined Arab nations in urging caution and warning of the dire consequences of annexation.
The path being blocked leads to the formal absorption of the West Bank, where 700,000 Israeli settlers live. This path is seen by most of the world as a dead end for peace and a violation of international law. Trump’s intervention suggests he agrees that this route is too dangerous to take.
This new obstacle on the West Bank issue is also part of a broader US strategy aimed at forging a new path in Gaza. The administration is promoting a 21-point peace plan to end the nearly two-year war. By blocking the path to annexation, Trump may be trying to redirect all parties toward the path of negotiation and peace in Gaza.