Annexation to the West Bank: Warnings Before the Formation of the Israeli Government

Text by: Guilhem Delteil Follow

Israel does not yet have a government, but one of the measures at the heart of the coalition agreement signed by Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz last week is already arousing a lot of reaction on the international scene. The text provides for possible annexation of many parts of the West Bank from July 1. A perspective against which several countries and organizations are already objecting. 

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,

The most virulent warning came from the Arab League. Meeting in videoconference on Thursday, the foreign ministers of the member countries of the organization estimated that "  the implementation of plans to annex any part of the occupied Palestinian territories (...) represents a new war crime (. ..) against the Palestinian people  ".

European diplomats are also already on the move. Also on Thursday, eleven ambassadors from the continent made an official approach to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They stressed that any annexation would be a clear violation of international law and that it would have consequences for regional stability and Israel's place on the world stage.

The only openly expressed support so far has come from the United States, Israel's main ally. Unsurprisingly, the Trump administration has said it is ready to recognize Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank and is working with Israeli authorities on the boundaries of the areas to be annexed.

But it also underlines that the plan presented by the American president in January implies a relaunch of the peace process and the recognition, in the long term, of a Palestinian state. A position rejected by part of the Israeli right.

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• Israel
• Benyamin netanyahu