West Bank Annexation Project: Netanyahu's Difficult American Equation  

Benjamin Netanyahu, June 14, 2020. Sebastian Scheiner / Pool via REUTERS

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The Israeli Prime Minister can in theory, from July 1, try to implement his plans to annex part of the Palestinian Territories. This will builds on the plan presented by the US administration last January to try to end the conflict in the Middle East. But this administration is today divided.

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From our correspondent in Jerusalem , Guilhem Delteil

For three days last week, Trump administration officials met to study plans to annex part of the Palestinian Territories from Benjamin Netanyahu . And even though the Israeli Prime Minister relied on the plan devised by this team, he did not get a green light from Washington.

Within the American administration, a fault line seems to have settled. On the one hand, David Friedman, the American ambassador to Israel, in favor of a rapid and unilateral annexation. On the other, Jared Kushner, advisor and son-in-law of Donald Trump, who defends an annexation within the framework of a peace process, therefore demanding territorial and political concessions to Israel.

This Tuesday, Benyamin Netanyahu was forced to recognize the persistence of differences with the American administration and the need to continue negotiations: "  We will continue to work [on the question of sovereignty]  in the coming days,  " he said. he declares.

A possible new tenant at the White House

But the other factor that Benjamin Netanyahu must take into account is the American election in November. The campaign is currently unfavorable to Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister cannot rule out the prospect of a Joe Biden victory . However, the Democratic candidate and the whole party took a position against annexation.

While his right urges him to act quickly before the window of fire offered by Donald Trump closes, Benyamin Netanyahu must weigh the risk of offending his possible next interlocutors in the White House.

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  • Israel
  • Palestinian territories
  • Benyamin netanyahu