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A White House official said President Trump considers stability in the Palestinian territories “a goal for achieving peace in the region.”
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Published February 9, 2026
White House officials said US President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank.
“Stability in the West Bank is consistent with the current administration’s goals of keeping Israel safe and achieving peace in the region,” the official said on Monday, according to Reuters.
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The White House’s comments came amid international outrage after Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced new measures on Sunday to expand Israel’s control over the occupied Palestinian territories.
This measure will make it easier for Israelis to acquire land for new settlements, which is illegal under international law.
The eight Muslim-majority countries condemned Israel’s move in a statement on Monday, saying the “unlawful Israeli decisions and measures” were “aimed at imposing illegal Israeli sovereignty” over the Palestinian territories.
Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates said Israel’s measures were an attempt to “intensify settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and implement new legal and administrative realities, thereby accelerating attempts to illegal annexation and displacement of Palestinians.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Britain and Spain joined the growing chorus of condemnation, with UN Secretary-General Spokesman Stephane Dujarric saying Israel’s actions were “destabilizing” and undermined prospects for a two-state solution.
Britain called on Israel to reverse its decision.
“The UK strongly condemns the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision yesterday to extend Israeli control over the West Bank,” the government said in a statement.
“Unilateral attempts to change the geographic or demographic composition of Palestine are completely unacceptable and violate international law. We call on Israel to immediately reverse these decisions,” it added.
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