'Bibi-sitting': Trump sends in his top aides to try to keep the fragile ceasefire on course

The parade of senior US officials travelling to the Middle East in recent weeks is a clear warning from the White House to Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli political factions to not disrupt the recent Gaza ceasefire - including by an annexation of the West Bank - or they will face a serious rift in relations with the US.

- Andrew Roth

As the shaky ceasefire came into effect last week, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner rushed to the region for consultations.

They have been followed by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the vice-president, JD Vance, as Trump deploys his top allies to tamp down on internal strife within Israel's fractious Knesset.

One of two bills recently advanced by rightwing MPs, despite the objections of Netanyahu and most of his Likud party, would establish Israeli “sovereignty” over the occupied territories in the West Bank - in effect ending the prospect of a two-state solution.

They are unlikely to become law, especially given Trump's vocal opposition to an annexation of the West Bank. But the votes have unsettled US officials, who took the unusual step of publicly chastising Israeli lawmakers for supporting the inflammatory legislation.