Israel Faces Western Pressure against Plan to Annex West Bank Lands
Arab World
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat
Political sources in Tel Aviv revealed that Israel has been facing pressures to hinder its quest to annex Jordan Valley, the north of the Dead Sea, and its settlements in the West Bank. Not only Europe is exerting these pressures but also Washington as US President Donald Trump demands that Israel recognizes the Palestinians’ right to establish a state before taking the annexation decision. The sources revealed that the US administration informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisors that the White House will grant the green light to Israeli annexation in the West Bank if it agrees to the establishment of a Palestinian state. US officials in Tel Aviv said on Friday that the step would be “in the context of the Government of Israel agreeing to negotiate with the Palestinians along the lines set forth in President Trump’s Vision.” “The annexation would be in the context of an offer to the Palestinians to achieve statehood based upon specific terms, conditions, territorial dimensions, and generous economic support," they added. White House senior adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner spoke last week with Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party to guarantee he approves Washington’s standpoint. During a virtual meeting for European diplomats and ambassadors as well as the ministry’s deputy director for Europe Anna Azari, they expressed concern over the annexation of the West Bank. They said that “The annexation of any part of the West Bank would be a violation of international law.” “Such unilateral steps will harm efforts to renew the peace process and will have grave consequences for regional stability as well as Israel’s standing in the international arena,” they added. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed the European Union’s letter warning Israel against the prospective move to annex parts of the West Bank. Erekat said that the Palestinian leadership was maintaining diplomatic international contacts to prevent Israel from implementing its annexation plan.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2263726/israel-faces-western-pressure-against-plan-annex-west-bank-lands
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