ISRAEL CRITICIZED FOR ANNEXATION PROPOSAL

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, supported by the Trump administration, has promised to annex parts of the West Bank next month. In response, Palestinians say since this would breach the ongoing peace accords established in the 1990s, they would no longer be bound by its conditions. This includes coordination between Israel and the Palestinians on important issues ranging from tax collection to medical treatment.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh stated on 9 June, “This is an issue in which we cannot be silent on… Annexation is an existential threat for our future.”

Israel’s proposed land grab has come under criticism. Last Thursday, Germany’s foreign minister cited the move as a violation of international law. In May, a spokesperson for the European Union said the EU would “use all our diplomatic capacities” to prevent Israel from taking the land.

But the fact remains that no European leader has proposed any direct action against Israel even if it clearly disregards international law.