This is a new plan that has arrived on the Quartet table (the European Union, the UN, Russia and the United States). The Palestinians "made a counter offer" to him on the US plan a few days ago, said Mohammed Shtayyeh.

The text "four and a half pages" proposes the creation of a "sovereign, independent and demilitarized Palestinian state", said the Palestinian Prime Minister.

Minor changes to the border line

The text also proposes "minor modifications to the line of borders when necessary", he indicated during a meeting with foreign journalists in Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, adding that the proposed transfer of territories will take place of "equals" in terms of "size and value".

Announced at the end of January in Washington, the American plan provides for the annexation by Israel of settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, occupied since 1967 by the Hebrew State.

It also provides for the creation of a Palestinian state on a reduced territory, without East Jerusalem as its capital, contrary to what the Palestinians want.

The European Union (EU) opposes it and asks the Israeli government to abandon the annexation, while it must present from July 1 its strategy to implement the American project.

Recognition of a Palestinian State, sanctions against Israel or others: many European countries are questioning the line to be adopted to dissuade Israel from going ahead with this plan, and what measures to take in the event of effective annexation, underline diplomatic sources.

"We want Israel to feel international pressure (...) For the first time, European political allies are discussing sanctions against Israel because we asked for them," said Mohammed Shtayyeh on Tuesday.

"The anger is there, the dissatisfaction is there"

"The recognition [of a Palestinian state, editor's note] is a preventive measure against annexation and the sanctions are another, additional," he added.

In recent days, demonstrations have multiplied in the West Bank, but also in Israel, against the project of annexation, without however rallying so far large crowds on the Palestinian side.

"The anger is there, the dissatisfaction is there, the frustration is there and all this is a recipe for more problems," said Mohammed Shtayyeh, however ensuring that the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmous Abbas, wishes to avoid the " chaos".

Currently, more than 450,000 Israelis live in settlements deemed illegal by international law in the West Bank, where 2.7 million Palestinians live.

With Reuters

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