In brief
In the wake of Trump's expected return, settlers in the West Bank, including Eliana Passentin, are optimistic about potential annexation despite past experiences. They believe that the new U.S. administration will support Israeli sovereignty over the territory even as the international community remains critical.
Eliana Passentin sits in her home in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, her eyes scanning the horizon stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. At nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, she appreciates the beauty of the view, yet yearns for something more: the annexation of her area by Israel. As the anticipated inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump approaches, settlers like Passentin find reasons for optimism stemming from the former president’s controversial staffing choices. Among Trump’s selected cabinet members, Pete Hegseth, a noted supporter, recently showcased the ancient site of Shiloh in his series “Battle in the Holy Land” while another key figure, Mike Huckabee, has long championed the belief that the entirety of the West Bank belongs to Israel. With nearly 500,000 settlers coexisting alongside 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank, tensions regarding settlement legality remain high. Following the explosive Hamas-led attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023, an outlook has shifted. Many settler leaders believe that the possibility of a Palestinian state now appears dismal, believing firmly that the U.S. will back Israel’s aspirations for sovereignty in the region—a stance the international community largely opposes.“I want to live my life in Israel,” states Passentin, expressing hope that the incoming administration will endorse whatever choices Israel makes concerning the contested territory. As they gaze across the fertile valleys, West Bank settlers confront an uncertain but possibly transformative future under Trump’s renewed leadership.
