The second phase of the peace plan for Gaza resists Donald Trump. The president held a highly anticipated meeting this Monday in Florida with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he described as “very productive”, but during which he … He has publicly acknowledged disagreements over how to respond to Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, a factor that adds complexity to an already fragile regional balance as negotiations over Gaza remain open.
“We’ve been having a discussion, a big discussion, for some time about the West Bank, and I wouldn’t say we agree 100 percent, but we will come to a conclusion,” Trump said. Asked about the precise points of disagreement, he avoided specifying them and limited himself to emphasizing that “they will be announced at the appropriate time” and that Netanyahu “will do what is necessary”.
The West Bank, a territory located west of the Jordan River and occupied militarily by Israel since 1967, is home to more than 3.3 million Palestinians. While the war in Gaza has attracted international attention, the area has seen a significant increase in Israeli military operations, a record number of demolitions of Palestinian homes and an accelerated expansion of Jewish settlements, in a context also marked by the attrition and paralysis of the Palestinian Authority, harassed by accusations of corruption and no political renewal.
In September, Trump said he would not authorize Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a position aligned with that of most Western and Arab countries, which warn that any formal annexation would de facto eliminate the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. This political limit now reappears in the dialogue between Washington and Jerusalem, even if the White House did not detail this Monday how it plans to translate it into concrete pressure on the Israeli government.
Trump attempted to narrow the scope of these differences by emphasizing that he is “not concerned” about Israel’s actions or the pace at which Netanyahu’s government is moving toward phase two of the Gaza peace plan. “I don’t worry about what Israel does. “I am concerned about what others are doing, or perhaps not doing,” he stressed alongside the Israeli Prime Minister. The president maintained that Israel had complied “100%” commitments acquired in the first stage of the agreement and justified Jerusalem’s caution in the face of an additional withdrawal without the prior disarmament of Hamas, an approach which, although sparking internal debate in the White House, continues to benefit from support.
Netanyahu, for his part, also called the meeting at the Mar-a-Lago mansion “very, very productive” and once again praised Trump for what he defined as “remarkable” achievements in the Middle East. “We talk about our ideas. “Sometimes we have different ideas, but we resolve them, and most of the time we see things the same way,” he said, without entering into the disagreements highlighted by the US president.
The West Bank exchange occurred alongside a display of strategic harmony on other fronts. Trump reiterated his support for Netanyahu in the midst of negotiations on the second phase of the truce in Gaza and once again placed the disarmament of Hamas as an essential condition for progress. At the same time, he toughened his rhetoric on Iran, warning that Tehran could try to rebuild its military capabilities at facilities other than those attacked by the United States earlier this year.
“I hope Iran is not trying to rebuild, as I read, weapons and other things,” Trump said. “If they do, they’re not using the sites we destroyed, but they may be using others.” Although he said he did not believe Iran would expand its nuclear program, he expressed concern about a possible revival of the ballistic missile program and threatened to “very powerful” consequences if that happens. “If this is the case, we will have no choice but to eradicate this accumulation very quickly,” he added.
Trump insisted that the United States “knows exactly where the Iranian authorities are going and what they are doing,” and justified his warnings with unspecified intelligence. “Normally, “When there is smoke, there is fire” he concluded, reinforcing a message of constant vigilance aimed at reassuring Israel in a period of regional uncertainty.
The most notable episode of the meeting came when Trump said he had spoken with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about a possible pardon for Netanyahu in the legal proceedings he faces in his country, and assured that the pardon “is in progress.” A few hours later, The Israeli presidency issued a statement to refute this version.
According to Herzog’s office, there have been no direct conversations between the Israeli president and Trump since the pardon request was formally submitted, and any suggestion to that effect is inconsistent with the facts. He acknowledged an earlier conversation between Herzog and a Trump representative, during which the status of the proceedings was explained and it was emphasized that any decision must strictly adhere to established legal channels.
In Israel, the issue of clemency is politically explosive. Netanyahu faces several legal proceedings for alleged crimes of corruption, fraud and breach of trust, and any movement around a possible presidential pardon is closely watched by the opposition and by sectors of the government bloc itself. Herzog, whose character is bound by institutional neutrality, reaffirmed that he would only act after a final conviction and according to a regulated procedure.
In this plan, Qatar and Turkey remain secondary but very relevant players. Qatar will continue to mediate with Hamas and provide financial support, but with less leeway and under stricter international supervision if disarmament progresses. Turkey, mentioned by Trump as a possible actor, appears to be a sensitive option: its involvement in the security or governance of Gaza arouses apprehension in Israel and in several Arab countries. For Washington, both would be limited in their roles, with no direct control over the enclave’s future.
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