Frustration towards Israel is growing in the White House in light of its counterattack on Gaza on Sunday and the West Bank annexation proposal that was raised in the Knesset, POLITICO reported Thursday.
The successive visits of US President Donald Trump’s administration officials to Israel have been meant to keep the fragile ceasefire in place.
US Vice President JD Vance delivered a “firm message” to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Trump in Wednesday's Jerusalem meeting, the report said, citing two people familiar with the conversation.
After Hamas terrorists killed two IDF soldiers, Israel assured the US that its response would be careful and limited; however, the strikes killed upwards of 40 civilians, according to Hamas-run Gaza health authorities. Senior US officials were frustrated about the strikes, telling one Arab ally that Israel was “out of control,” POLITICO quoted one of the two people familiar with the conversation as saying.
Trump, in an interview with Time magazine, said that if Israel annexes the West Bank, it would lose all US support. US Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vance all previously condemned West Bank annexation.
A White House official said that these public comments “reflect how the president feels,” according to the report.
Netanyahu issues statement opposing Knesset vote
In response to the Knesset's annexation vote, Netanyahu issued a statement opposing it on Thursday, only in English.
The recent Knesset vote on West Bank annexation was a "deliberate political provocation by the opposition" meant to incite conflict during US Vice President JD Vance's visit, the Prime Minister’s Office statement read.
“The two bills were sponsored by opposition members of the Knesset,” it added.
MK Ofir Katz (Likud) commented on the Knesset vote Thursday night after Trump’s interview was published, revealing that the prime minister instructed him not to advance the proposals until further notice.
Guy Elster contributed to this report.