Samaria leader presses Netanyahu to annex Judea and Samaria despite Trump’s objections

Dagan: “Only full sovereignty over all open areas and settlements will prevent a terrorist state from being established in the heart of the country.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan is urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move forward with applying Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, despite US President Donald Trump’s firm declaration that he will not permit annexation.

Trump, speaking to reporters Thursday, said clearly, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. No, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen.” He added that the matter had been discussed with Netanyahu, but repeated, “I’m not going to allow it, whether I spoke to him or not. There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”

Dagan responded Friday by calling on Netanyahu to assert Israel’s independence in decision-making.

“The bond between Netanyahu, Darmer, and Trump has never been stronger—also yesterday with Kushner and Witkoff. The ball is always in Netanyahu’s court,” he said. “He must tell Trump: ‘We will not tolerate another October 7—I am applying sovereignty.’”

He argued that while a friendly US administration is important, it cannot replace Israel’s responsibility to act in its own security interests.

“A supportive US administration does not decide sovereignty or build for us; it is an administration with which agreements can be made and disagreements dealt with,” Dagan noted.

The Samaria leader warned that the Israeli public will not accept hesitation in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attack.

“Only full sovereignty over all open areas and settlements will prevent a terrorist state from being established in the heart of the country,” he said.

Other voices in the political sphere echoed Dagan’s stance. MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party insisted that “with all due respect” to Washington, “the decision to apply sovereignty lies with the Israeli government and Knesset.”

Dagan concluded by urging Netanyahu to use his upcoming international appearances to make Israel’s position clear.

“The responsibility lies with Netanyahu. He is the prime minister, the one we elected—and he must declare at the UN: ‘This is our land. I am applying full sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.’ Most of the people expect this, and most of the people will not accept anything less.”

Benjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpJudea and SamariaYossi Dagan