U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed growing concerns over Israel’s moves to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, claiming that Tel Aviv will not take any such action — even as the Israeli parliament advances laws to extend its sovereignty over Palestinian territories.

 “Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel will do nothing to the West Bank. They’re not going to do anything.” Trump said at a press conference.

His remarks came just two days after the Israeli Knesset approved two preliminary bills expanding the regime’s authority to illegal settlement areas in the occupied West Bank. On July 23, the Knesset also adopted a non-binding resolution urging the Israeli government to move forward with formal annexation. Out of 120 lawmakers, 71 voted in favor while 13 opposed the motion.

The latest vote, held on October 22, coincided with a visit to the occupied territories by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who harshly criticized the annexation attempt, calling it “a foolish political stunt.”

In a separate interview with Time magazine, Trump emphasized that Washington would not tolerate any annexation move, warning that such actions could cost Israel all U.S. support. “If that happens, Israel loses all the backing from the United States,” he said.

Despite Trump’s statement, Palestinian observers and human rights advocates see the ongoing Israeli legislative maneuvers as clear evidence of de facto annexation, carried out under the cover of U.S. political ambiguity. They argue that Washington’s long-standing protection of the occupation regime—through military aid and diplomatic shielding—has emboldened Israel to act with impunity against international law.

The occupied West Bank, home to over 3 million Palestinians, has been subjected to decades of land confiscations, settlement expansion, and military raids. Any formal annexation would mark a further violation of UN resolutions and the Geneva Conventions, deepening the apartheid-like reality imposed on Palestinians.

Analysts say Trump’s latest remarks—seemingly downplaying Israeli aggression—reflect Washington’s consistent pattern of double standards: condemning annexation in words while enabling it in practice through billions of dollars in annual aid and unconditional political cover. (ILKHA)