Palestinian officials have denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s reiteration of a pledge to annex all illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning such a move would not lead to “any peace”.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Netanyahu’s announcement on Sunday was a “continuation of attempts to create an unacceptable fait accompli”.
Rdainah added that any such move would “not lead to any peace, security or stability”.
Netanyahu Pledges Again Annexation Of Occupied West Bank Settlements https://t.co/HndebP0WEv pic.twitter.com/Royvn1Mf78
— KhamakarPress (@KhamakarPress) September 2, 2019
The settlements are illegal under international law and are major stumbling blocks to an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
Palestinians seek to make the West Bank part of a future state that would include the Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel seized those areas in 1967 and moved troops and settlers out of Gaza in 2005.
Ashrawi: Netanyahu’s annexation plans require international action, including sanctions https://t.co/ROsBkD05wx pic.twitter.com/GJ5KOKjIOa
— Therese (@Th2shay) September 2, 2019
Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), called on the international community to take action after Netanyahu’s comments.
Erekat wrote on Twitter:
“Those who claim concern after every Israeli settlement announcement should face reality: Israel’s PM is announcing further annexation of occupied territory.”
He added:
“Enough impunity: There’s an international responsibility to impose sanctions on Israel after decades of systematic crimes,” he added.
Those who claim concern after every Israeli settlement announcement should face reality: Israel’s PM is announcing further annexation of occupied territory. Enough impunity: There’s an international responsibility to impose sanctions on Israel after decades of systematic crimes
— Dr. Saeb Erakat الدكتور صائب عريقات (@ErakatSaeb) September 1, 2019
Netanyahu’s reaffirmation of the annexation promise came amid a campaign push to draw supporters of far-right factions to his Likud party in the run-up to Israel’s September 17 election.
“With the help of God we will apply Jewish sovereignty to all communities, as part of the [biblical] Land of Israel, and as part of the state of Israel,” he told an audience at the West Bank settlement of Elkana on Sunday.
DAILY RECAP: Netanyahu Promises Annexation: IDF Fires Into Lebanon https://t.co/RoapQFJWOw
— Frankie Carrasquillo (@FrankieCarrasq9) September 1, 2019
In power for the past decade, but with corruption charges looming, Netanyahu has cautioned that Likud needs to emerge with a decisive lead in the ballot or Israel’s president might choose another candidate to form a governing coalition after the race.
Netanyahu made the same promise on annexation before Israel’s last election in April, but the results left him unable to form a viable governing coalition and prompted the calling of a fresh poll.
(Al Jazeera, PC, Social Media)
