Members of the US Congress began a move to halt Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. While Sweden renewed its rejection of the move, the Vatican summoned the ambassadors of America and Israel to express its concern about any measure threatening peace efforts.
Thirteen Democrats in the US Senate submitted a proposal to amend the Defense Authorization Act of 2021, with the aim of preventing Israel from spending US aid funds to annex Palestinian lands.
Senator Chris Van Hallen described the annexation of Palestinian land by Israel as a violation of international law, undermining understandings of the United States, Israel, the Palestinians, and the international community, and "undermining the security of Israel itself."
As for Senator Patrick Leahy, he noted that annexation eliminates any remaining hope for a two-state solution.
Senator Chris Murphy questioned the utility of changing the course of policies based on US support for a two-state solution nearly two decades ago.
Threat of peace
In an unfamiliar move, the Vatican summoned both the US and Israeli ambassadors to express concerns about Israeli moves to establish sovereignty over Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank.
A Vatican statement said that there were meetings on Tuesday between Cardinal Petro Parolin, Vatican Foreign Minister, US Ambassador Calista Gingrich and Israeli Ambassador Oren David.
The statement added that Baroline expressed Vatican concern "about possible unilateral actions that may threaten the endeavor towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the sensitive situation in the Middle East."
The Vatican statement affirmed the position in support of the two-state solution, saying "Israel and the State of Palestine have the right to exist and to live in peace and security, in accordance with internationally recognized borders."
He appealed to the Vatican, Israelis and Palestinians, to make every effort to resume direct negotiations on the basis of United Nations resolutions.
Continuing pressure
on its part, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde called on the international community to increase pressure on Israel to prevent its attempts to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.
Lind explained that international pressure had previously succeeded in preventing Israeli attempts to annex some areas in the West Bank, stressing the need to continue it.
"While the annexation is contrary to international law, the two-state solution will be at risk, and the conflict between Israel and Palestine may reach an irreversible point, so the European Union and Sweden will continue to pressure Israel as long as the risk of annexation continues," she said.
It is noteworthy that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last May the imposition of sovereignty over Jewish settlements in the West Bank and over the Jordan Valley by the first of July, but the date passed without the implementation of the step, amid continuing talks with the American side in this regard, and in The international community refused.
In response to the Israeli move, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he was in the process of dissolution of all agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments, and of all the obligations that they entail, including security.