Gantz on Annexation: Wherever We Apply Israeli Law, Palestinians Will Have Full Rights

Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said on Friday that he conditions annexing parts of the West Bank on granting full rights to Palestinians living in areas in which Israeli law will be applied.

Gantz, who also acts as defense minister, said he would act to promote bilateral steps with the Palestinians in an attempt to jumpstart a diplomatic process based upon U.S. President Donald Trump's "Deal of the Century."

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"This week I defined several parameters for diplomatic moves made by Israel," Gantz wrote in a Facebook post. "We will not apply Israeli law in places in which there are many Palestinians or in cases where we would harm their mobility; if there'll be Palestinian citizens in regions where Israeli law is applied, they will have equal rights."

"Preliminary work will be done in both diplomatic and security capacities to ensure we will not harm the country's safety, as well as our peace agreements and strategic assets," he added.

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The Israeli government has expressed it's intention to begin the process of annexing parts of the Jordan Valley on July 1.

Earlier on Friday, Gantz blamed the Palestinians for the freeze in peace talks, and claimed that "if they request to conduct serious negotiations, I'm willing to be in Ramallah tomorrow morning and discuss it."