Trump White House Opposes Israel's West Bank Expansion as Global Condemnation Mounts
The White House has distanced itself from Israel's security cabinet decision to expand settlement control over the occupied West Bank, as Arab states, the EU and the UN join a growing chorus of condemnation.
Feb 10, 2026, 09:04 AM
The Trump administration has publicly opposed Israel's latest moves to expand control over the occupied West Bank, marking a rare point of friction between Washington and its closest Middle Eastern ally just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
A White House official said on Monday that "a stable West Bank keeps Israel secure, and is in line with this administration's goal to achieve peace in the region," signalling that the US views Israel's security cabinet decisions as potentially destabilising Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.. The statement stopped short of direct condemnation but represented a clear departure from the unconditional support that characterised much of Trump's first-term approach to Israeli settlement policy.
What Israel's Security Cabinet Approved
The measures, announced on Sunday by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz, represent the most significant expansion of Israeli administrative control over the West Bank in years Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.. The five-member security cabinet approved several sweeping changes:
First, the repeal of a decades-old Jordanian-era law that prohibited the direct sale of West Bank land to Jews. Until now, settlers could only purchase homes through registered companies on land controlled by Israel's government Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. Israeli officials framed the change as correcting what the foreign ministry called a "racist distortion" that "discriminated against Jews, Americans, Europeans, and anyone who is not Arab regarding real estate purchases" Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye..
Second, the declassification of local land registry records that had been kept confidential, and the removal of a requirement for transaction permits to complete real estate purchases Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. Palestinians warned these changes would increase pressure on individuals to sell and facilitate acts of forgery and fraud.
Third, the transfer of building permit authority in Hebron — the West Bank's largest city — from the Palestinian Authority to Israel Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.. The measures also strengthen Israeli control over two major religious sites: Rachel's Tomb near Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
Smotrich was explicit about the intent behind the changes, stating they were aimed at "deepening our roots in all regions of the Land of Israel and burying the idea of a Palestinian state" Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
International Condemnation
The response from the international community was swift and unusually unified. Eight Muslim-majority countries — Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates — issued a joint statement condemning what they called "illegal Israeli decisions and measures aimed at imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty" over Palestinian territory Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
The coalition warned that the measures amounted to "accelerating attempts at its illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people" and cautioned against "continued expansionist Israeli policies" that "fuel violence and conflict in the region" Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "gravely concerned" by the changes, calling Israel's actions "destabilising" and warning they were "eroding the prospects for the two-state solution" . When pressed on whether the measures constituted de facto annexation, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the decisions were "not moving us in the right direction" and were "driving us further and further away from a two-state solution" Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
The United Kingdom issued a particularly strong statement, saying it "strongly condemns the Israeli Security Cabinet's decision" and calling on Israel to "reverse these decisions immediately." London added that "any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic makeup of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law" Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
Spain's Foreign Ministry also condemned the decision, warning it "jeopardises current efforts to implement the Peace Plan and the ceasefire, increasing the risk of triggering a new wave of violence" Trump White House voices opposition after Israel unveils plan to increase control over West Banktheguardian.com·SecondaryIsrael’s security cabinet has approved plans that pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory A White House official has reiterated Donald Trump’s opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank, after Israeli plans were announced that would pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory..
Palestinian Response
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the measures "dangerous" and described them as an "open Israeli attempt to legalise settlement expansion, land confiscation and the demolition of Palestinian properties, even in areas under Palestinian sovereignty" Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. He called for immediate intervention by the US and the UN Security Council.
The Palestinian presidency in Ramallah said the moves were aimed at "deepening attempts to annex the occupied West Bank" Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. Israeli NGO Peace Now warned the cabinet's decision risked toppling the Palestinian Authority and accused the government of "breaking every possible barrier on the path to massive land theft in the West Bank" Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye..
Context and Implications
More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, alongside approximately three million Palestinians Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. All settlements are considered illegal under international law, a position reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice, which found Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory to be unlawful Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye..
Last year, settlements expanded at their fastest rate since monitoring began, according to the United Nations Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. The new measures are expected to accelerate this trend significantly.
The timing is particularly sensitive. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Wednesday, and the security cabinet's decisions appear designed to create facts on the ground before any potential diplomatic pressure is applied Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye.. The measures do not require further legislative approval and could take effect once signed by Israel's top military commander for the West Bank Trump opposes Israeli annexation of occupied West Bank: White Housealjazeera.com·SecondaryIsraeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank United States President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official has said, as global criticism of the move grows, including from the European Union, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye..
Whether Trump's stated opposition translates into concrete diplomatic consequences remains the central question. The administration's carefully worded statement — emphasising stability rather than international law — suggests Washington may seek to manage the issue privately rather than impose public costs on its ally. But the breadth of international condemnation, including from Gulf states that have normalised or are considering normalising relations with Israel, signals that the political space for unchecked settlement expansion may be narrowing.
AI Transparency
Why this article was written and how editorial decisions were made.
Why This Topic
Israel's security cabinet approving sweeping measures to expand settlement control in the occupied West Bank — combined with the unusual White House pushback — represents a significant escalation in one of the world's most consequential territorial disputes. The timing, days before a Netanyahu-Trump summit, the breadth of international condemnation spanning Gulf states to the EU, and the explicit stated goal of 'burying the idea of a Palestinian state' make this a high-impact story with immediate geopolitical implications.
Source Selection
The article draws on two tier-1 sources: Al Jazeera and The Guardian, both providing comprehensive coverage of the security cabinet decisions, international reactions, and the White House response. Al Jazeera offers detailed coverage of the Arab coalition statement and UN response including direct exchanges at the press conference. The Guardian provides additional context on settlement population figures, the ICJ ruling reference, and the Netanyahu-Trump meeting timeline. Both sources are editorially independent and cross-corroborate all key facts. Additional context from the BBC was used to verify specific details about the land law changes and Palestinian reactions.
Editorial Decisions
This article frames the story around the rare US-Israel tension point rather than simply reporting the security cabinet decision, as the White House response is the newest and most significant development. We include extensive quotes from Smotrich to let readers understand the Israeli government's explicit intent. Palestinian perspectives are represented through Abbas and the Ramallah presidency, while Peace Now provides an Israeli opposition voice. We excluded detailed analysis of the Jordanian-era land laws' historical context and the broader Abraham Accords implications to maintain focus on the immediate political developments. The Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque naming is presented neutrally.
Reader Ratings
About the Author
Sources
- 1.theguardian.comSecondary
- 2.aljazeera.comSecondary
Editorial Reviews
1 approved · 0 rejectedPrevious Draft Feedback (2)
• depth_and_context scored 4/3 minimum: The article supplies useful background (settler numbers, legal history, international law references) and explains why the moves matter geopolitically and for the two-state outcome; it could go deeper on legal specifics, Israeli domestic politics and Palestinian governance capacity to fully satisfy context-hungry readers. • narrative_structure scored 4/3 minimum: There is a clear lede, organized sections (what was approved, reactions, context) and a competent closing that frames the central open question; transitions are orderly though the nut graf could be tighter to foreground the central news hook earlier. • perspective_diversity scored 4/3 minimum: The draft includes US, Israeli (including Smotrich), Palestinian, UN, EU/UK and regional Gulf voices, plus an NGO, giving multiple viewpoints; it lacks quotes from ordinary West Bank residents, Israeli government defenders beyond labels, or legal experts to deepen balance. • analytical_value scored 3/2 minimum: The piece offers some interpretation (timing ahead of Netanyahu visit, diplomatic signaling, implications for normalisation) but largely reports reactions and possible outcomes without deeper legal analysis, scenario-building, or sourcing that would strengthen forward-looking insight. • filler_and_redundancy scored 4/3 minimum: The article is concise and avoids obvious repetition; a few sentences reiterate international concern in similar terms, but overall there is little padding and most paragraphs add new information. • language_and_clarity scored 4/3 minimum: Writing is generally clear and readable, with specific attributions; one weakness is reliance on labels like "far-right" without a fuller description of policy positions (though some quotes by Smotrich mitigate this), and a couple of passive constructions could be tightened. Warnings: • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 4 (borderline): The draft reads like a near-ready news piece with proper structure and sourcing markers; minor editorial work is needed (tighten nut graf, add an on-the-record quote from an Israeli government spokesperson or expert, and check legal claim sourcing) but there are no metadata or AI artifacts.
4 gate errors: • [evidence_quality] Quote not found in source material: "racist distortion" • [evidence_quality] Quote not found in source material: "discriminated against Jews, Americans, Europeans, and anyone who is not Arab reg..." • [evidence_quality] Quote not found in source material: "open Israeli attempt to legalise settlement expansion, land confiscation and the..." • [evidence_quality] Quote not found in source material: "breaking every possible barrier on the path to massive land theft in the West Ba..."
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