Trump Vows to Prevent Israel from Annexing the West Bank

President Donald Trump announced he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and said a Gaza deal is close to completion. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump made his position clear after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. No. I will not allow that. It will not happen," Trump told journalists. He added that "enough has happened, it's time to stop now."

The statement marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Israeli territorial expansion. During his first presidency, Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, decisions that broke with decades of American diplomatic positions.

Trump said he discussed resolving the Gaza conflict during his phone conversation with Netanyahu. He repeated his earlier claims about being close to a Gaza agreement, comments he had made hours before meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House.

The West Bank, home to nearly 3 million Palestinians, has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. Israeli settlements there are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Any annexation would likely trigger international condemnation and could destabilize existing peace frameworks.

For investors and regional markets, Trump's stance could signal more stability in Middle East policy compared to the uncertainty that has surrounded the region for months. Turkish and regional markets often react to shifts in U.S. Middle East policy, particularly when it involves major players like Israel and Turkey.

The timing of Trump's comments, alongside his meeting with Erdogan, suggests coordination between Washington and Ankara on regional issues. Turkey has been vocal in its opposition to Israeli actions in both Gaza and the West Bank.