EU ‘to rally against Israel’s West Bank annexation proposal’

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The EU has indicated that it will try to stop Israel’s proposed annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc would use its diplomatic clout to prevent unilateral action.

Israel’s incoming unity government has agreed that the process of annexing West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley as early as in July.

The Palestinians, who seek a state which includes all of the West Bank, bitterly oppose the idea.

Speaking after a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Borrell said: “We must work to discourage any possible initiative toward annexation.”

He said the EU looked forward to working with Israel’s new government, but added: “Unilateral action from either side should be avoided and for sure international law should be upheld.”

Some EU states are said to be calling for a tougher line on the issue, including possible sanctions, but others have urged caution.

“What everybody agreed is we have to increase our efforts and our reach-out to all relevant actors in the Middle East,” Mr Borrell said.

The application of Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank is in line with US President Donald Trump’s “vision for peace” between Israel and the Palestinians, which was unveiled in January.