Trump & Netanyahu need to agree on future of Judea and Samaria
It beggars belief that President Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can agree on prosecuting a war against Iran – but have been unable to agree on the way forward to ending the Arab-Jewish conflict in Judea and Samaria (West Bank).
At a White House press conference on 4 February 2025 – with Netanyahu present – the following exchange took place:
Q. Do you support—Mr. President, do you support Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria areas, which many believe is the biblical homeland of the Jewish people?
President Trump. Well, we're discussing that with many of your representatives. You're represented very well, and people do like the idea, but we haven't taken a position on it yet, but we will be—we'll be making an announcement probably on that very specific topic over the next 4 weeks.
No such announcement has been made to date.
On 24 September 2025 Politico reported:
President Donald Trump promised Arab and Muslim leaders during a meeting Tuesday that he would not allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the West Bank, according to six people familiar with the discussion.
On 29 December 2025 Reuters reported Trump stating:
"We have had a discussion, big discussion for a long time on the West Bank. And I wouldn't say we agree on the West Bank 100%, but we'll come to a conclusion on the West Bank," Trump said.
"I don't want to do that, it will be announced at an appropriate time," Trump said when asked what the disagreement between them was. Netanyahu "will do the right thing," Trump added.
On 10 February Axios reported:
"I am against annexation. We have enough things to think about now. We don't need to be dealing with the West Bank,"
Three things Trump and those Arab and Muslim leaders have been forced to think about since 10 February that will impact on their thinking on the West Bank:
· The US/Israel attack on Iran on 28 February - now in its third week without any sign of ending
· Iran’s subsequent attack on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 passed on 11 March has condemned in the strongest terms the egregious attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against these states and determined that such acts constitute a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.
Resolution 2817 further condemns residential areas being attacked, civilian objects being targeted and that the attacks resulted in civilian casualties and damage of civilian buildings.
· Iran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz - the narrow shipping lane between Iran and Oman through which around a fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supply passes. Top Middle East oil producers Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait have all cut production at their oilfields.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are members of the Abraham Accords while Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have so far declined to join the Accords until a pathway to creating a Palestinian State between Jordan and Israel is established – a solution Israel’s Knesset has rejected.
Iran’s attacks on Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia could rebound as those States – already in the US/Israel tent – sign the Abraham Accords.
The existing international border between Israel and Jordan could be redrawn – effectively allocating sovereignty of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) between Israel and Jordan – who have enjoyed a peace agreement since 1994.
The 12 month’s stand-off between Trump and Netanyahu on Judea and Samaria (West Bank) will have been resolved.
David Singer is a Sydney lawyer and a foundation member of the International Analysts Network.
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