Trump: Israel is Behaving Nicely, They Won't Annex the West Bank

In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic friction, the relationship between Jerusalem and Washington is teetering on the edge, fueled by Israel's recent military actions in Gaza and a contentious Knesset vote on sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

As senior US officials shuttle through Israel in a bid to salvage a fragile Middle East peace, sharp rebukes from the Trump administration highlight growing frustrations that could unravel hard-won gains.

The spark? A Politico report reveals the White House's "deep frustration" not just with the Knesset’s approval of a sovereignty law for Judea and Samaria, but primarily over an IDF strike in Gaza on Sunday.

US sources accuse Israel of breaching an explicit pledge for a "limited and controlled" response to Hamas fire on two soldiers, labeling the operation as an "excessive" full-scale attack. One Arab interlocutor even branded Israel a "state that has gone out of control," underscoring the perceived breach of trust.

During a Wednesday meeting in Jerusalem, Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a "stern message" straight from President Trump to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The President expects you to show restraint and stop the escalation," Vance reportedly stated, warning that the Gaza strike undermines the ceasefire and erodes bilateral confidence.

Trump, addressing reporters at the White House, downplayed public drama but affirmed behind-the-scenes resolve: "We are working together, we have peace in the Middle East and we want it to be preserved." Privately, he urged Israel to avoid jeopardizing shared achievements.

This comes amid a parade of US dignitaries, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff, meeting Netanyahu and Defense Minister figures to plead: "Do not return to full-scale fighting."

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt struck an optimistic note, insisting Trump's peace plan is succeeding and that close coordination with regional partners will prevent a slide back into violence.

Compounding the crisis, Trump bluntly addressed the sovereignty vote in remarks at the White House: "Don't worry about Judea and Samaria - Israel won't do anything. It's behaving very nicely." This echoes his Time magazine interview, where he vowed to block any annexation, citing commitments to Arab nations and warning Israel risks losing US support entirely.

Netanyahu, facing internal pushback, had lobbied coalition heavyweights like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and MK Avi Maoz to delay the vote, emphasizing a "sensitive political period" ripe with opportunities. "We all need to show restraint and rise to the magnitude of the hour," he implored.

Yet, defiant coalition members, including Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and even Likud's Yuli Edelstein, pushed it through, prompting Vance to call it a "strange" and "stupid" political stunt that left him "personally offended" and shook trust.Rubio echoed the sentiment, noting the vote "endangers the agreement in Gaza."

In damage control, Netanyahu's office dismissed it as an "opposition provocation" aimed at division during Vance's visit. Ministers Ron Dermer and ambassador-designate Yechiel Leiter scrambled to soothe Washington, where it was dubbed a "diplomatic slap." Coalition chair Ofir Katz halted further sovereignty bills per Netanyahu's orders.

In a Channel 12 interview amid Rubio's visit, Netanyahu sought to de-escalate: "I greatly appreciate President Trump's support, both in the war moves, the decision to enter Gaza, and his mobilization against the Arab world for the hostages' release. The cooperation between us is an enormous blessing for Israel. We are an independent country."