BEIT EL, West Bank — Following the announcement of Donald Trump’s election victory last week, advocates for Jewish settlements in the West Bank celebrated with enthusiasm. Photos on social media captured supporters raising glasses of champagne while dancing to classic tunes by the Bee Gees at a local winery, which also revealed plans for a special edition red wine named after the incoming president.
Settlement enthusiasts see ample reasons to rejoice. During Trump’s initial presidency, the construction of housing for Jewish settlers significantly exceeded previous levels, and his administration enacted a series of historic policies in favor of Israel’s territorial rights. Key actions included the official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to the city, and the acknowledgment of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
With Israel battling on multiple fronts, advocates believe that Trump’s strong support could pave the way for their ultimate aspiration: the annexation of the West Bank. Critics argue that this move would effectively extinguish any remaining hopes for an independent Palestinian state. There are even discussions among some proponents about the potential for resettling Gaza under a Trump-led administration.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his aspirations for 2025, referring to it as “the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” a statement that ignited international backlash. He indicated plans for the Israeli government to push the idea of annexation with the Trump administration.
The West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, came under Israeli control during the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinian leadership envisions these territories as integral to a future state. While Israel annexed east Jerusalem, a move largely unrecognized internationally, it withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and has been engaged in ongoing conflict with Hamas since then.
The number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has surged, with over half a million residing in approximately 130 settlements alongside numerous unauthorized outposts. The Palestinian Authority, supported by Western nations, governs certain parts of the West Bank, which constitute the majority of the Palestinian population.
In his first term, Trump altered long-standing U.S. policy towards Israeli settlements by endorsing expansion. His proposed plans suggested that Israel could retain all existing settlements. Furthermore, his ambassador to Israel was a vocal opponent of Palestinian independence.
Nonetheless, some settlement advocates expressed apprehensions regarding Trump’s approach. His Middle East plan tentatively included provisions for a Palestinian state, albeit through a framework viewed by critics as highly impractical. The normalization agreements Trump facilitated between Israel and several Arab nations also stalled the prospect of immediate annexation of the West Bank.
Although Trump has yet to articulate his official stance for a second term, his initial appointments—including ambassadors known for their strong pro-Israel perspectives—suggest that he may not obstruct the current right-wing government in Israel from continuing its settlement efforts.
Mike Huckabee, Trump’s nominee for the ambassadorship to Israel, has stated that no previous president has been more beneficial in advancing Israel’s sovereignty. He conveyed his expectation that this trend will persist.
Netanyahu’s spokesperson did not disclose the prime minister’s plans regarding annexation during Trump’s expected presidency. However, Netanyahu has appointed Yechiel Leiter, a prominent hardline settlement activist, as his ambassador to the U.S.
Human rights organizations have accused Israel of instating an apartheid system in the West Bank, and further annexation could provoke similar allegations if equal rights are not granted to Palestinians. Israel opposes granting citizenship to Palestinians in the West Bank, citing concerns about its national Jewish identity.
Regardless of whether formal annexation occurs, settlement advocates see a future characterized by expansive growth during Trump’s administration and under the Israeli government, where settlers occupy significant power. They anticipate an era of greater settlement presence in the West Bank, marked by a surge of new housing, roads, and industrial spaces.
Israel Ganz, chairman of the Yesha Council—a prominent settlers’ advocacy organization—voiced confidence that Trump’s support for Israel would facilitate this expansion.
Settlement growth has varied under successive U.S. administrations. During Trump’s presidency, the advancement rate of new housing units reached nearly 33,000, which represents nearly three times the rate observed during Barack Obama’s final years in office. Following a marked decline during the initial years of the Biden administration, settlement activity rebounded in 2023, correlating with the formation of the current far-right Israeli government amidst the ongoing conflict.
The Biden administration has initiated sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians—an approach presumed to shift under Trump’s leadership.
In the West Bank, advertisements promote new settlement housing developments, inviting individuals to relocate. In Beit El, adjacent to Ramallah, a newly constructed neighborhood features not traditional single-family homes but rather six large apartment buildings designed to accommodate hundreds, resembling typical Israeli suburbs.
Palestinians view these settlements as in violation of international law and a significant barrier to peace—a stance supported by a considerable segment of the international community. Israel maintains that the West Bank represents the historical and biblical heartland of the Jewish people, insisting that any territorial divisions must stem from negotiated agreements. With peace talks stalled for over a decade, the appetite for Palestinian statehood among Israelis has decreased, particularly following the violent October 7 attacks by Hamas that escalated the current conflict.
Palestinian official Wasel Abu Yusuf remarked on the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s definitive stance regarding Israeli annexation, suggesting that it remains to be seen if he will advocate for such a move.
Dror Etkes, a researcher and activist opposed to settlements, noted that during Trump’s previous administration, the expansion of outpost farms significantly displaced Palestinian communities and facilitated infrastructure that supports ongoing settlement growth.
Looking ahead, Etkes projected that the next four years may reveal more substantial actions toward de facto annexation or potentially official measures.
Some advocates for settlement expansion suggest that Trump’s administration could avoid pressing Netanyahu to withdraw troops from Gaza promptly, creating an opportunity for resettlement. Such a strategy would face strong opposition from various international factions and other U.S. administrations.
This narrative echoes earlier phases of the Israeli occupation, which spurred considerable settlement growth. Two of Netanyahu’s key partners in his ruling coalition also advocate for resettlement in Gaza, despite Netanyahu’s statement characterizing such moves as unrealistic.
Yair Sheleg, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, emphasized that Trump’s unpredictability means his policy could shift, potentially affecting the settlement enterprise and any moves to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Nonetheless, sentiments among settlement advocates are largely optimistic, with many believing that “Trump comprehends the demands of the settlement initiative.”