United States President Donald Trump has said that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. The tensions have spiralled after the recent UNGA summit in New York, after several nations formally recognised Palestine on Monday.
Trump said in the Oval Office, "I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank." It’s not going to happen."
"There's been enough; it's time to stop," Trump said. Trump’s latest comment has sent shockwaves to the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who mockingly told France and other nations that recognising Palestine would not deter Israel and that they can dream of having a two-state solution to the crisis.
Trump’s latest comments are expected to be influenced by the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has led the efforts to bring a ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump met Macron after the UNGA summit, where both leaders discussed the evolving situation, the need for a ceasefire and a two-state solution that would see both sides exist peacefully.
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The French president, the British Prime Minister, the Portuguese president, the Spanish president and several other nations recognised the Palestinian state and said, "This was a right step in the right direction." Israel has been occupying the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. The Palestinian Authority administers semi-autonomous areas in the West Bank.
Trump also met the leaders of the majority of the Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan, on Tuesday to discuss the war in Gaza. "The Arab and Muslim countries made very clear to the president the danger of annexation of any type in the West Bank, and the risk that poses, not just for the potential of peace in Gaza,” said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
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