We have exchanged a few words with our friends within the Republicans and there are already big plans that we, God willing, will implement together, said Israel Ganz, chairman of Yesha council, which gathers Israeli settlers on the West Bank, during the celebration of Trump's victory at the Psagot winery.
The winery in the settlement area near Ramallah even released a special edition, reports Israeli media: a Merlot named "President Trump".
The establishment of a Palestinian state should be completely removed from the agenda, continued Ganz in his speech.
Many settlers now hope that Trump will pave the way for greatly expanded settlements. The most hardline believe that Trump's victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: a total annexation of the West Bank, which has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967.
They think they have won the lottery. They think they can do whatever they want now, and I think they are right, said Hagit Ofran of the Israeli peace organization Peace Now to The Washington Post earlier in December.
Lawless
An annexation of the West Bank is generally seen as the final nail in the coffin for any hope of a two-state solution.
During Trump's previous term, settlements on the West Bank grew to record levels. Trump also recognized Jerusalem – which the Palestinians also claim – as Israel's capital and moved the US embassy there.
If God wills, 2025 will be the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), said Israel's ultra-nationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich after Trump's victory.
Over half a million Israelis live in settlements and illegal outposts on the West Bank, which the Palestinians see as part of a future Palestinian state. All settlements violate the Geneva Convention.
Monkey with a bomb
Trump's plans going forward are unclear. But the fact that several of his nominees are outspoken Israel friends – including future Israeli ambassador Mike Huckabee and Defense Minister Pete Hegseth – gives a hint.
Over the next four years, we can assume that we will see significant steps towards de facto annexation and maybe even an official annexation, says Israeli researcher and activist Dror Etkes to AP.
Human rights organizations have long accused Israel of practicing apartheid on the West Bank. During the war in Gaza, settlements have grown and violence against Palestinians on the West Bank has escalated, notes among others Amnesty.
Ramallah resident Eyad Barghouti fears increased violence and oppression with Trump in the White House.
It's like a monkey holding a bomb. You don't know when or where he'll drop it, he says to The Guardian.
Named after its location west of the Jordan River. Has an area of 5,860 square kilometers – equivalent to approximately three Lake Vättern. The West Bank is thus 16 times larger than the Gaza Strip.
Approximately 3 million Palestinians live on the West Bank, but also several hundred thousand Israeli settlers.
The Oslo Accords of the 1990s divided the West Bank into three areas: A, B, and C. In A and B, which together make up about 40 percent of the area, the Palestinians have some self-determination. In C, Israel has control. According to the Oslo Accords, the Palestinians were to gradually gain more power and control, even in area C. But that has not happened, instead Israel has expanded its domains, built new settlements, roads, and barriers.
Israel's grip on the West Bank began with the occupation of the area during the Six-Day War in 1967. Since then, it has been under military occupation pending a final peace agreement. But there are also strong right-wing forces in Israel who believe that the country has a right to large parts of – or the entire – West Bank.
The Palestinian self-government on the West Bank is led by the secular party Fatah.
