Preventing Israeli Annexation ‘A Matter of Priority,’ German, Jordanian, Palestinian FMs Declare
Germany, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority declared that preventing Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank is paramount, in a joint statement released Wednesday overnight following a meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
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– Annexation vexation comes between Bibi and the settlers
LISTEN: Annexation vexation comes between Bibi and the settlersHaaretz
The three met via video conference at the end of Maas' visit to Jordan. Earlier, he had visited with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Benny Gantz in Israel to discuss annexation and its possible ramifications.
"The German Foreign Minister confirmed that an annexation would be contrary to international law and that it is now a matter of priority to prevent it," the statement said, adding that the leaders "reiterated that any future negotiations to reach the final status agreement must be based on international law and the relevant UN resolutions."
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– Noa.
“The Palestinian Prime Minister, the Jordanian Foreign Minister and the German Foreign Minister confirmed that an annexation would be contrary to international law and that it is now a matter of priority to prevent it” https://t.co/QmUfWZIU3f
— Noa Landau נעה לנדאו (@noa_landau) June 11, 2020
They also "underlined their firm commitment to the two-state solution" and discussed bringing both Israel and the Palestinians to the table. Maas and Safadi noted that they are offering help in facilitating the negotiation process.
Wednesday's meeting with the Palestinian prime minister was held over video conference after Israel cited its coronavirus quarantine orders to prevent Maas from visiting the West Bank.
Earlier Wednesday, Maas warned Netanyahu that other nations would cast sanctions on Israel, and possibly officially recognize a Palestinian state, if Israel follows through on its stated intention to begin annexing part of the West Bank on July 1.
In a meeting with Netanyahu, Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Benny Gantz, and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Maas added that Germany is not enthusiastic about imposing retribution measures on Israel, but that other nations are pressuring the European Union to move in that direction.