President Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank — White House
White House comments come amid global concern after Israel announced fresh measures extending its control over occupied Palestinian territory, easing land acquisition for new settlements widely regarded as illegal under international law.
A White House official has reiterated US President Donald Trump's opposition to Israel annexing the occupied West Bank.
"A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region," White House official said late on Monday.
White House official commented on the Israeli cabinet decision to expand control over the West Bank, including in areas A and B, “that according to Oslo accords are supposed to be under full or partial control of the Palestinian Authority,” Axios correspondent Barak Ravid posted on his X account.
US disapproval of the Israeli move followed earlier criticism from Europe, the OIC, and several other countries around the world.
Earlier in the day, foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Israel’s latest measures in the occupied West Bank.
The statement posted on the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s official website said the measures aimed at imposing “unlawful Israeli sovereignty, entrenching settlement activity, and enforcing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank, thereby accelerating attempts at its illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people.”
Britain also called on Israel to reverse its decision to expand control over the occupied West Bank, joining the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in criticising the move.
OIC expressed its “absolute rejection” of Israeli measures aimed at changing the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
In a statement, the Jeddah-based grouping condemned “in the strongest terms the occupation cabinet’s approval of a series of decisions to impose a new reality through colonial settlement and change the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif.”
“Israel’s settlement policy constitutes a war crime and a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions,” the OIC said.
The statement emphasised that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory,” underlining that such actions "fuel violence and conflict in the region."
Other European powers like Germany also criticised Tel Aviv for its approval of measures aimed at strengthening control in the occupied West Bank.
The Spanish government issued a strong condemnation of Israel's measures, warning that they violate international law and threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state.
In a statement issued by the Spanish Foreign Ministry, Madrid criticised Israel's move to repeal a law limiting the acquisition of real estate and the registration of property in the occupied West Bank, as well as new administrative measures granting Israeli authorities jurisdiction over violations related to water management, environmental damage, and archaeological sites in the area.