After a powerful intervention from concerned allies, Donald Trump has effectively derailed the “annexation train” that Israeli far-right politicians believed was heading for its destination. The president’s firm statement, “It’s not going to happen,” has brought the momentum towards extending Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank to a screeching halt.
This derailment occurred just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arriving in the US, creating an immediate political crisis for his government. The ultra-nationalist parties in his coalition, who were the primary drivers of the annexation push, have now been publicly stymied by their most important international supporter.
The intervention that stopped the train was a textbook case of international diplomacy. Fearing a US green light for annexation as retaliation for their recognition of Palestine, European powers lobbied Washington intensively. They were joined by Arab states, who warned of a regional explosion, and their combined pressure proved decisive.
The track for this now-derailed train was laid across the West Bank, where 700,000 Israeli settlers live. The goal of the journey was to make a Palestinian state impossible, a plan that has drawn condemnation from around the world, particularly in light of controversial projects like the E1 settlement.
This dramatic halt to the annexation process is also a key development in the wider context of the Gaza peace effort. With the annexation issue now seemingly off the table, US diplomats may find it easier to focus regional attention on their 21-point plan to end the devastating war that has ravaged the Gaza Strip for nearly two years.
