The West Bank has long been at the centre of one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. Home to 2.7 million Palestinians and nearly half a million Israeli settlers, the region remains a flashpoint of violence, political controversy and international attention. Under the new Trump administration, the dynamics of the West Bank are likely to shift in significant ways, as a combination of far right ideologies and pro-settler policies take hold in both Washington and Jerusalem.
Recent escalations in violence underscore the volatility of the situation. An Israeli airstrike in the West Bank on January 8 killed three Palestinians, including two children, amid an ongoing wave of arrests, military raids and retaliatory attacks. It was in response to a recent attack by Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on a settlement that killed three Israelis. As violence surges, the policies of the Trump administration are poised to have a profound impact on the future of the region, reshaping the prospects for peace and the long-standing struggle over land and sovereignty.
The West Bank’s strategic location and historical significance have made it a focal point of conflict since the mid-20th century. Initially part of the British Mandate of Palestine, the region was claimed by Jordan following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel seized control of the West Bank, and it has remained under Israeli occupation ever since.
Over the decades, Israeli settlements have proliferated across the territory, with the explicit or tacit approval of successive Israeli governments. Settlers live under Israeli civil law, while their Palestinian neighbours are subject to Israeli military law. Palestinians and much of the international community view these settlements as illegal under international law and a major obstacle to achieving peace. For Palestinians, they represent a creeping annexation that threatens their aspirations for an independent state.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has renewed hope among Israeli settler leaders and far right Zionist activists that his administration will back policies that expand Israeli control over the West Bank. During his first term, Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel, including moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognising the city as Israel’s capital. His administration also reversed decades of American policy by declaring that Israeli settlements were not inconsistent with international law.
Trump’s new appointments signal a continuation of this pro-settler agenda. Figures like Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israeli settlements, and Pete Hegseth, a far right evangelical Christian, hold significant influence in Trump’s foreign policy team. Huckabee, who always refers to the West Bank as "Judea and Samaria," mirroring the terms preferred by the Israeli far right, has long championed the expansion of settlements. Huckabee is expected to be the next American ambassador to Israel, while Hegseth could be the next defence secretary.
These appointments have emboldened Israeli settlers and far right leaders in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a vocal advocate for annexing the West Bank, has declared 2025 “the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” signalling an aggressive push toward annexation.
Annexing parts or all of the West Bank has been a goal for many members of Netanyahu’s far right coalition government. While formal annexation has been avoided in the past due to international opposition, Trump’s renewed support has reignited hopes among settlers that such a move could become a reality.
Annexation would have far-reaching consequences. For Palestinians, it would mean the loss of land and the solidification of Israeli control over territory they envision as part of a future state. For Israel, it would likely provoke international condemnation and further isolate the country diplomatically. However, for the Israeli far right, annexation is seen as a fulfilment of historical and religious claims to the land.
The Trump administration’s approach to the West Bank aligns closely with these views. Settler leaders are optimistic that Trump will not only support annexation but also roll back sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on individuals and organisations involved in settler violence and land seizures.
Settlements in the West Bank continue to expand, often accompanied by the demolition of Palestinian homes and the displacement of families, especially after Trump’s election victory. In East Jerusalem’s Al-Bustan neighbourhood, for example, Israeli authorities have demolished Palestinian homes under the pretext of illegal construction. Activists argue that these demolitions aim to connect Israeli settler enclaves with West Jerusalem, effectively erasing Palestinian presence in strategic areas. Ir Amim, an Israeli human rights group, warned that the demolitions were part of a broader strategy to consolidate Israeli control over the city and its surroundings. The Trump administration’s support for such policies could further embolden Israeli authorities to intensify these efforts, leaving Palestinian communities increasingly vulnerable.
The West Bank has seen a sharp rise in violence in recent years. According to the United Nations, nearly 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2024, including civilians and militants. Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property have surged, while the Israeli military has conducted deadly raids and airstrikes targeting armed groups.
For Palestinians, this violence represents not only a physical threat but also a broader effort to undermine their claims to the land. Billboards erected by settlers declaring “There is no future in Palestine” are just one example of the psychological warfare being waged against Palestinian communities.
The two-state solution, once considered the cornerstone of international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has become increasingly unattainable. Support for the idea has waned among Israelis, with many fearing that a Palestinian state would pose a security threat. A recent survey found that nearly two-thirds of Jewish Israelis believe Palestinians have no right to a state of their own.
Trump himself has expressed scepticism about the viability of a two-state solution. During his previous term, he floated a peace plan dubbed the “deal of the century,” which proposed Israeli annexation of 30 per cent of the West Bank and a disjointed Palestinian state with limited sovereignty. The plan was rejected by Palestinian leaders, who viewed it as heavily skewed in Israel’s favour.
Under the new Trump administration, the prospects for a two-state solution appear even dimmer. With the US and Israel’s far right governments aligned, the idea of Palestinian statehood is likely to be sidelined in favour of policies that prioritise Israeli territorial expansion.
The Trump administration’s approach to the West Bank is likely to face significant opposition from the international community. Most countries consider Israeli settlements illegal and have condemned efforts to annex the territory. European nations, in particular, have expressed concern about sidelining the two-state solution and the humanitarian consequences of Israeli policies in the West Bank.
However, Trump’s close alignment with Netanyahu’s government and his willingness to challenge international norms make it unlikely that external pressure will deter his administration from pursuing its agenda. The Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, further complicate the situation by shifting the regional focus away from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
