US Progressives Challenge Trump Over Israeli West Bank Annexation

The Congressional Progressive Caucus issued a sharp rebuke on Thursday, arguing that while Trump publicly claims opposition to annexation, his inaction effectively enables the destruction of the two-state solution. This follows a recent report detailing how the Israeli cabinet has moved to simplify land purchases for settlers by restarting registration procedures in Area C, which covers roughly 60% of the West Bank under full Israeli military control.

International opposition is mounting, with UN member states demanding a reversal of these policies, citing violations of international law. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour stated that such measures aim to alter the demographic character of occupied territories. Meanwhile, Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have openly framed these actions as a revolution of settlement, viewing the current political climate in Washington as a prime opportunity to solidify control.

Legal and human rights organizations continue to highlight the gravity of the situation. In 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that the occupation constitutes an illegal form of apartheid that must end. Despite this, the settler population has surged to approximately 770,000, and violence in the West Bank has claimed at least 1,053 Palestinian lives since October 2023. As legislative attempts like HR 7545 seek to restrict US funding for such property seizures, the divide between executive policy and congressional concern remains deep.