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Friday, August 21, 2026
US reiterates opposition to Israeli annexation of West Bank, but avoids condemning E1 plan
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
The US State Department reiterates US President Donald Trump’s opposition to Israel annexing the West Bank, but intentionally avoids condemning Jerusalem’s planned building of settlements in the controversial E1 area.
A growing number of Western and Middle Eastern countries have decried Israel’s advancement of the E1 project — which both supporters and opponents say could mark the death knell for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by bisecting the West Bank and further preventing Palestinian territorial contiguity.
But when asked for comment on the project, the State Department repeats a statement it has previously used regarding Israeli policy in the West Bank, without referring to E1.
“As the president has clearly stated, the US does not support Israel annexing the West Bank. A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region,” reads a statement attributed to a State Department spokesperson that is being sent to querying reporters.
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