Trump’s Gaza plan highlights rising influence of pro-settler advisors
4 Min Read
The idea of the US occupying Gaza and forcibly displacing Palestinians is welcomed by "Israel’s" pro-settler movement and its US supporters.
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In this Jan. 3, 2020 file photo, evangelical supporters pray with President Donald Trump during a rally at the King Jesus International Ministry church in Miami. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week highlighted the growing influence of evangelical Christian leaders and the pro-settler right in both "Israel" and the US, The Guardian reported.
In an analytical piece, Andrew Roth wrote for The Guardian that these groups are pushing for "Israel’s" occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, an idea that gained further momentum after Donald Trump proposed his controversial plan to “take over” Gaza.
This suggestion, which was quickly hailed by Israeli pro-settler figures, is seen as an attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank, with Trump’s rhetoric signaling a clear shift toward supporting this goal.
Trump’s proposal, which many saw as advocating for ethnic cleansing, has been embraced by influential figures such as Mike Huckabee and Itamar Ben-Gvir, both staunch supporters of "Israel’s" territorial expansion.
The development marks a turning point in "US"-Israel relations, with Trump’s pro-settler advisors gaining influence and pushing for stronger support of the Israeli scheme.
Despite the potential impact on US relations with other countries, Trump’s support for "Israel’s right" to occupy more Palestinian land aligns with his broader “America First” foreign policy approach, focused on isolating critics and fostering deals beneficial to "Israel’s" right-wing agenda.
Read more: AP: US Evangelicals volunteering in war-time support for 'Israel'
Trump says 'Israel' is small when asked about taking over the West Bank
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump avoided answering a reporter's question in the Oval Office on whether he would support "Israel annexing the West Bank," instead offering an unusual analogy about the country's size.
"I'm not going to talk about that. It certainly is a small, it's a small country in terms of land," Trump responded when asked about his stance on the issue.
Holding up a pen from his desk, he continued, "See this pen? This wonderful pen on my desk is the Middle East, and the top of the pen — that's Israel."
He then added, "That's not good, right? You know, it's a pretty big difference. I use that as an analogy — it's pretty accurate, actually."
Trump appeared to be emphasizing the Israeli occupation's territorial size, stating, "It's a pretty small piece of land. It's amazing what they've been able to do when you think about it, [There's] a lot of good, smart brain power, but it is a very small piece of land, no question about it."
