Germany, France urge Israel to reconsider West Bank annexation plans
The foreign ministers of France and Germany have demanded Israel halt plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
Israeli spies have reportedly called for the plans to be expedited, with the world distracted the pandemic.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, have urged Israel to renounce its plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
"Our goal is still to prevent any annexation in violation of international law in the first place," said Le Drian, after meeting with Maas in Berlin on Friday.
The pair announced intensive talks between European Union partners and neighboring countries such as Jordan.
Maas said Israel's annexation plans were "of great concern" to him and Le Drian and that in the coming days, no effort would be spared to bring together the parties involved for talks.
Maas said the issue of annexation should be brought to the forefront once more, and that it was still possible to use "the opportunity and the time window" before a possible annexation.
Israel's new government is expected to present its strategy on July 1 for implementing the Middle East "peace plan" drawn up by the Trump administration. The plan allows for Israel to annex large parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, which Israel occupied in 1967.
Palestinians are completely opposed to the plan, fearing it will trigger a new wave of violence in the region.
Le Drian stressed that an annexation would increase "instability in the Middle East" and would violate international law. He said the two-state solution was still the only option, adding that close cooperation with European partners was necessary to achieve this goal.
Read more: UN panel: Israel annexation of West Bank 'violates international law'
Israel: Annex now, as world occupied with coronavirus
Israel's Ministry of Intelligence has reportedly compiled a document listing reasons for the immediate annexation of West Bank areas.
According to dpa news agency, the document finds that the support of US President Donald Trump means the timing is good.
"It is unclear what US support will look like after the November elections," the document reportedly says.
The ministry reportedly found that the threat of violence was low, with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas both against conflict and no expectation of "severe unrest" in Jordan.
It also found that the international community was preoccupied with the fight against the coronavirus.
On Thursday, Jordan's foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, unexpectedly visited the West Bank and warned against the annexation plans.
"Annexation is unprecedented for the peace process, and it will kill the two-state solution and will destroy all the foundations of the peace process,'" Safadi said after meeting with his Palestinian counterpart in the city of Ramallah.
He said the plans would "deprive all peoples of the region of their right to live in security, peace and stability."
aw/msh (AFP, dpa, Reuters, AP)
Germany rejects Israel's West Bank annexation plans as illegal
The German parliament has called on Israel to halt its plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank. However, it has ruled out the use of sanctions against Israel.
Germany called on Israel not to annex the West Bank on Wednesday, saying the plans were "in contradiction with international law."
The motion was brought in the Bundestag by the three parties in Chancellor Angela Merkel's broad coalition and was approved without opposing votes. All parliamentary groups, aside from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, warned that Israel's plans to annex parts of the West Bank would jeopardize Israel's security and hopes of a two-state solution.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the plan threatened the stability of the entire Middle East.
"Peace cannot be achieved by unilateral steps," Maas said.
In a dissenting voice, the AfD's Anton Friesen said the annexation was in Israel's national interest.
Read more: What will Israel's West Bank annexation plans mean for the region?
No sanctions
However, lawmakers said threatening Israel with sanctions over the matter would have "no constructive effect."
The move, taken just as Germany takes over the EU presidency, greatly reduces the chances of European Union sanctions as it requires unanimous support from EU member states.
The document said, "Discussions on unilateral sanctions or threats of sanctions have no constructive effect" on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Plans pushed back
Israel was due to begin annexing settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley on July 1, but the US-backed plans have been pushed back. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said talks with his security chiefs were ongoing.
Annexation forms part of the plans of US President Donald Trump's administration, which also includes the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state with a capital outside of Jerusalem. Palestinians have firmly rejected this plan.
The EU has also strongly opposed the US plan, mounting a diplomatic campaign against the project. Germany's Maas traveled to Israel to raise concerns about the plans.
Also on Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said any Israeli annexation would be a violation of international law and would have consequences.
"Annexation of Palestinian territories, whatever the perimeters, would seriously throw into question the parameters to resolve the conflict," Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing. "An annexation decision could not be left without consequences and we are examining different options at a national level and also in coordination with our main European partners."
The UK chimed in as well, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying annexation would violate international law and harm Israel's drive to improve relations with the Arab world.
"Annexation would represent a violation of international law," Johnson said in an opinion piece for Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's top-selling daily.
"Annexation would put in jeopardy the progress that Israel has made in improving relationships with the Arab and Muslim world," Johnson wrote, calling for justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Read more: How will Arab states react to Israel's annexation plans?
Protests in Gaza
Thousands of people in Gaza protested against the plans on Wednesday, some brandishing Palestinian flags and placards condemning Trump.
"The resistance must be revived," Gaza protester Rafeeq Inaiah told the AFP news agency. "Israel is afraid of force."
There were smaller demonstrations in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Jericho, which some left-wing Israeli politicians attended.
Meanwhile, Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, fired 20 rockets in the Mediterranean Sea as a show of force.
aw/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
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German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, have urged Israel to renounce its plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
"Our goal is still to prevent any annexation in violation of international law in the first place," said Le Drian, after meeting with Maas in Berlin on Friday.
The pair announced intensive talks between European Union partners and neighboring countries such as Jordan.
Maas said Israel's annexation plans were "of great concern" to him and Le Drian and that in the coming days, no effort would be spared to bring together the parties involved for talks.
Maas said the issue of annexation should be brought to the forefront once more, and that it was still possible to use "the opportunity and the time window" before a possible annexation.
Israel's new government is expected to present its strategy on July 1 for implementing the Middle East "peace plan" drawn up by the Trump administration. The plan allows for Israel to annex large parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, which Israel occupied in 1967.
Palestinians are completely opposed to the plan, fearing it will trigger a new wave of violence in the region.
Le Drian stressed that an annexation would increase "instability in the Middle East" and would violate international law. He said the two-state solution was still the only option, adding that close cooperation with European partners was necessary to achieve this goal.
Read more: UN panel: Israel annexation of West Bank 'violates international law'
Israel: Annex now, as world occupied with coronavirus
Israel's Ministry of Intelligence has reportedly compiled a document listing reasons for the immediate annexation of West Bank areas.
According to dpa news agency, the document finds that the support of US President Donald Trump means the timing is good.
"It is unclear what US support will look like after the November elections," the document reportedly says.
The ministry reportedly found that the threat of violence was low, with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas both against conflict and no expectation of "severe unrest" in Jordan.
It also found that the international community was preoccupied with the fight against the coronavirus.
On Thursday, Jordan's foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, unexpectedly visited the West Bank and warned against the annexation plans.
"Annexation is unprecedented for the peace process, and it will kill the two-state solution and will destroy all the foundations of the peace process,'" Safadi said after meeting with his Palestinian counterpart in the city of Ramallah.
He said the plans would "deprive all peoples of the region of their right to live in security, peace and stability."
aw/msh (AFP, dpa, Reuters, AP)
Germany rejects Israel's West Bank annexation plans as illegal
The German parliament has called on Israel to halt its plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank. However, it has ruled out the use of sanctions against Israel.
Germany called on Israel not to annex the West Bank on Wednesday, saying the plans were "in contradiction with international law."
The motion was brought in the Bundestag by the three parties in Chancellor Angela Merkel's broad coalition and was approved without opposing votes. All parliamentary groups, aside from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, warned that Israel's plans to annex parts of the West Bank would jeopardize Israel's security and hopes of a two-state solution.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the plan threatened the stability of the entire Middle East.
"Peace cannot be achieved by unilateral steps," Maas said.
In a dissenting voice, the AfD's Anton Friesen said the annexation was in Israel's national interest.
Read more: What will Israel's West Bank annexation plans mean for the region?
No sanctions
However, lawmakers said threatening Israel with sanctions over the matter would have "no constructive effect."
The move, taken just as Germany takes over the EU presidency, greatly reduces the chances of European Union sanctions as it requires unanimous support from EU member states.
The document said, "Discussions on unilateral sanctions or threats of sanctions have no constructive effect" on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Plans pushed back
Israel was due to begin annexing settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley on July 1, but the US-backed plans have been pushed back. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said talks with his security chiefs were ongoing.
Annexation forms part of the plans of US President Donald Trump's administration, which also includes the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state with a capital outside of Jerusalem. Palestinians have firmly rejected this plan.
The EU has also strongly opposed the US plan, mounting a diplomatic campaign against the project. Germany's Maas traveled to Israel to raise concerns about the plans.
Also on Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said any Israeli annexation would be a violation of international law and would have consequences.
"Annexation of Palestinian territories, whatever the perimeters, would seriously throw into question the parameters to resolve the conflict," Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing. "An annexation decision could not be left without consequences and we are examining different options at a national level and also in coordination with our main European partners."
The UK chimed in as well, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying annexation would violate international law and harm Israel's drive to improve relations with the Arab world.
"Annexation would represent a violation of international law," Johnson said in an opinion piece for Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's top-selling daily.
"Annexation would put in jeopardy the progress that Israel has made in improving relationships with the Arab and Muslim world," Johnson wrote, calling for justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Read more: How will Arab states react to Israel's annexation plans?
Protests in Gaza
Thousands of people in Gaza protested against the plans on Wednesday, some brandishing Palestinian flags and placards condemning Trump.
"The resistance must be revived," Gaza protester Rafeeq Inaiah told the AFP news agency. "Israel is afraid of force."
There were smaller demonstrations in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Jericho, which some left-wing Israeli politicians attended.
Meanwhile, Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, fired 20 rockets in the Mediterranean Sea as a show of force.
aw/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
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Protesters took to the street against Israeli government plans to annex parts of the West Bank. The areas are land Palestinians want as part of an independent state. (07.06.2020)
Israel approves 'Trump Heights' settlement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for the controversial settlement in the Golan Heights last year. Now Israel's government has approved it. (14.06.2020)
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