Trump says 'Israel' is small when asked about West Bank annexation
3 Min Read
US President Donald Trump explains that "Israel" is a "small country" when asked if he would back its efforts to annex the West Bank.
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President Donald Trump arrives at the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington (AP)
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."
⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇱JUST IN; When U.S President Donald Trump was asked if he would support the annexation of the West Bank he said:
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) February 3, 2025
“The table - the Middle East, the pen - Israel…that’s not good, it’s a pretty small piece of land”
So Trump supports ethnic cleansing and annexation. pic.twitter.com/blUrvTdcqm
Trump appeared to be emphasizing Israel'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."
Despite repeated questions about potential Israeli annexation, Trump refrained from offering a direct position.
Trump lifts sanctions on extremist Israeli groups
US President Donald Trump rescinded sanctions imposed by the previous Biden administration on far-right Israeli settler groups and individuals over their involvement in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The decision was announced on the newly launched White House website.
The website confirmed that Trump revoked Executive Order 14115, issued on February 1, 2024. This order authorized sanctions targeting individuals and entities accused of undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.
The move marks a significant reversal of a major policy under former President Joe Biden, whose administration imposed sanctions on numerous settler individuals and organizations. The sanctions froze US-based assets and prohibited Americans from engaging in financial dealings with those on the sanctions list.
The decision comes amid heightened international concern over rising violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as ongoing Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territory. These actions have drawn criticism from some of the Israeli occupation's Western allies, even as global attention remains focused on the war in Gaza.
