Trump says he and Netanyahu do not fully agree on West Bank

PALM BEACH, United States – US President Donald Trump said on Dec 29 that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not fully agree on the issue of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but the Republican leader did not specify the nature of their disagreement.

In a briefing after a

meeting with Mr Netanyahu

at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Mr Trump was asked if he had a message for the Israeli leader regarding the West Bank and if he was concerned that settler violence there could undermine peace.

“We have had a discussion, big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank. And I wouldn’t say we agree on the West Bank 100 per cent, but we’ll come to a conclusion,” Mr Trump said.

“I don’t want to do that, it will be announced at an appropriate time,” Mr Trump said when asked about the disagreement between them. Mr Netanyahu “will do the right thing”, Mr Trump added.

Israel has been under mounting international pressure to curb settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Home to 2.7 million Palestinians, the territory has long been at the heart of plans for a future Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The UN, Palestinians and most countries regard settlements as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this, citing biblical ties to the land and security concerns. Around half a million Israeli settlers live in the West Bank.

The UN’s highest court said in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and its settlements there were illegal and should be dismantled.

Over a thousand Palestinians were killed in the West Bank between October 2023 and October 2025,

mostly during operations by Israeli security forces,

with some deaths resulting from settler violence, the UN has said.

In the same period, 57 Israelis were killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians. REUTERS