President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, declaring from the Oval Office that “it’s not gonna happen.”

The president’s remarks, his first-ever on the matter, came in response to questions about whether he had privately assured Arab and Muslim leaders of his stance during a multilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week. Trump confirmed the reports, underscoring that he had communicated his position directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” Trump said firmly. “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”

The comments mark a sharp pivot from Washington’s traditionally ambivalent posture on annexation and could inject fresh volatility into U.S.-Israel relations. Netanyahu, a longtime Trump ally, has at times signaled openness to settlement expansion and sovereignty moves in the West Bank, policies that have drawn outrage across the Arab world and alarm among international diplomats.

Trump’s declaration comes as the administration seeks to shore up ties with key Arab and Muslim states amid ongoing regional turbulence. By setting a clear red line against annexation, the president appears intent on balancing U.S. support for Israel with the demands of Arab leaders wary of unilateral moves that could further destabilize the region.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)