Israel: Netanyahu reiterates promises of annexation to the West Bank

The Jewish settlement of Maale Edumin in the West Bank (illustration image). REUTERS / Baz Ratner

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This is one of his main campaign promises and Benyamin Netanyahu makes it one of the main challenges of this start of a new mandate. The Israeli Prime Minister again promises to start annexing parts of the West Bank as of July 1, 2020. When he received settler representatives last night, he said that the annexation would be carried out in stages. But the feasibility of this project remains uncertain.

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Guilhem Delteil

According to the plan drawn up by the Donald Trump administration, it is almost 30% of the West Bank that Israel could annex at the expense of the Palestinians. But this annexation could take time: there are disagreements between Israelis and Americans on the delimitation of certain areas to be annexed. On the other hand, the Israeli Prime Minister wants to move quickly on the areas which are the consensus: the settlements themselves. These, he promises, will be annexed on July 1.

Netanyahu wants to show that it does not falter

By renewing this campaign promise and by specifying a little the timetable for its realization, Netanyahu wants to show his electorate that he does not falter while international warnings are increasing: the Palestinians , Jordan, the European Union ( EU) , Russia have all called on the head of government to back down on this promise, seeing it as a danger for a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and regional stability.

The United States has not given the green light

But, even if he specifies his calendar, Benyamin Netanyahu knows that he does not have all the cards in hand . The United States has not yet given the green light, he admitted yesterday evening to representatives of the settlers. Its coalition ally, the Bleu-Banc party of Benny Gantz, has not yet expressed support for this project. And part of the right formations and the settlers are opposed to it. As it stands, a majority in the Knesset is not guaranteed.

Read also: Demonstration in Tel Aviv against the plan to annex part of the West Bank

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  • Israel
  • Palestinian territories

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