Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi: Annexation? Ask Netanyahu
Questions about the plan to extend Israel sovereignty over the West Bank ‘should be referred to PM,’ Ashkenazi said, signaling disagreement within the coalition is not over.
#IsraelPalestineconflict: The day has come. July 1 was the date initially announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his controversial plan to annex West Bank land.
Speaking to Army Radio, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue & White) said, “Questions regarding the plan for extended Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank’ should refer to PM’, said Ashkenazi, signaling disagreement within the coalition is not over.
“It seems unlikely to me that this will happen today,” he said, “I reckon there will be nothing today, regarding (the extension of Israeli) sovereignty.”
On Tuesday, Netanyahu meets with White House envoy Avi Berkowitz and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Shortly after, he said discussions about his unilateral move would continue “in the coming days,” indicating he would miss the target date to begin U.S. President Donald Trump’s “peace plan”.
The U.S. and Israel have been holding talks for several months on finalizing a map spelling out which areas of the West Bank Israel would annex.
When Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue & White) spoke on Tuesday about Netanyahu’s push to extend Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank and the strategic Jordan Valley, Gantz reminded the PM that the government should deal with the economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic first.
Gantz told the Ynet’s studio in an interview, “This is not the time to tackle the issue. I believe that the Trump peace plan is the right political-security framework for the State of Israel.”
Gantz added, “We must do it right by bringing in as many partners into the discussion as possible, with international backing. One million unemployed people do not know what we are talking about right now. Most of them are worried about what they’re going to do tomorrow morning,” he said.
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