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The United Nations and the European Union have warned Israel not to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov said Thursday that such a move would be a “devastating blow” to the internationally-backed two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the EU said to annex Palestinian territory ” would constitute a serious violation of international law. “
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Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed a coalition agreement that includes a clause to advance plans to annex parts of the West Bank, including Israeli settlements, beginning July 1. .
Reporting from the UN, James Bays of Al Jazeera said that the formation of a government in Israel has focused on the question of annexation.
“The new coalition government in Israel makes the possibility of annexation of parts of the West Bank much more likely. That means the areas currently considered to be occupied by international law would come under the sovereignty of Israel. At least this is how Israel I would see it. ” ,” he said.
In an informational video with the UN Security Council, Mladenov warned that “the dangerous possibility of Israel’s annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank is a growing threat,” and said such a move would violate international law.
The envoy said the annexation would also “deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations and threaten efforts to advance regional peace.”
Separately on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the 27-member bloc does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over Palestinian territory and that it “will continue to closely monitor the situation and its broader implications, and will act accordingly. ” .
United States plan
Netanyahu’s pro-settler base is eager to move forward with annexation while the friendly administration of United States President Donald Trump is in office.
The long-awaited White House Middle East plan, presented earlier this year, plans to leave parts of the West Bank under permanent Israeli control. Palestinians have rejected the plan as partial.
Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East War. Since then, more than 700,000 Israelis have moved to settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Most of the international community considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal under international law and an obstacle to a two-state solution to the conflict.
Palestinians seek the entire West Bank and East Jerusalem as part of an independent state. The annexation of the West Bank settlements would enrage Palestinians and Israel’s Arab neighbors, and would remove any persistent hopes of establishing a viable Palestinian state.
The Netanyahu-Gantz agreement stipulates that any Israeli action would need the backing of the United States and must take into account Israel’s peace treaties with neighboring Jordan and Egypt.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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