Trump could realistically hold back Netanyahu but the question is whether he will or not, said Gregory Treverton, professor of international relations and spatial sciences at the University of Southern California.
The analyst noted that this could be another example of Trump talking big while attempting to escape a crisis he cannot solve, such as the Russia-Ukraine war.
“I think (Trump) would be prepared to use the full weight of American support and arms deliveries,” he told CNA’s Asia First.
“He probably could twist Netanyahu’s arms into at least not formally annexing the West Bank. But with Trump, it’s never clear whether this is tough talk that’s going to go away immediately as he loses interest in this particular issue.”
About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in a move not recognised by most countries.
Israel refuses to cede control of the West Bank, a position it says has been reinforced since the Hamas-led militant attack on its territory, launched on Gaza Oct 7, 2023.
