The West Bank, Not Gaza, Should Be Trump’s Priority

The West Bank, not Gaza, should be President Trump's top priority, according to experts. After claiming in late July that Hamas had accepted a roadmap for disarming, the administration is unlikely to see either side fulfill the terms. Hamas' apparent willingness to compromise is likely a ploy to prolong its political life, as the group has made clear it won't sacrifice its weapons before every Israeli soldier leaves Gaza. However, the real issue lies elsewhere: the West Bank.

The White House's policies may be fueling the violence. By lifting sanctions on extremist settler groups and not restraining its ally, the administration has emboldened Israeli settlers. This support is paradoxical, as traditional Palestinian terror threats in the West Bank have dropped by 78 percent, according to the IDF. Nonetheless, there is a significant risk of a major outbreak of violence.

Israeli officials warn that an escalation in the West Bank is imminent. The government, rather than Palestinian groups, is actively stoking the flames. Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, with Defense Ministry responsibilities, has been legalizing settlements in the West Bank and aims to annex the territory. This has led to constant friction between Israelis and Palestinians, with settler attacks becoming more frequent, especially after Hamas's October 7, 2023, massacre.

While some blame the violence on a few delinquents, it is orchestrated and spreading under the government's support. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has even canceled administrative detention orders against violent settlers to please his base. This violence is not only happening in the West Bank but also within Israel itself.