Published 13:11 IST, June 4th 2020
Netanyahu and settlers clash over West Bank annexation plans
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized Jewish West Bank settler leaders for disparaging President Donald Trump over what they perceive to be his less than adequate plan allowing Israel to annex parts of the West Bank.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized Jewish West Bank settler leers for disparaging President Donald Trump over what y perceive to be his less than equate plan allowing Israel to annex parts of West Bank.
Despite what is widely viewed as a pro-Israel peace plan, settler leer have voiced concern that maps y have seen leave many settlements as isolated enclaves. y also reject any recognition of a Palestinian state, as outlined in American plan, and have pressed Netanyahu to make changes.
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On Wednesday, David Elhayani, chairman of umbrella Yesha Council representing settlers, told Haaretz daily that plan proved Trump was “t a friend of Israel.” Netanyahu, having just met settler leers to hear ir grievances, lashed back.
“President Trump is a great friend of Israel's. He has led historic moves for Israel’s benefit," Netanyahu said in a statement Wednesday. “It is regrettable that inste of showing gratitude, re are those who are denying his friendship.”
Speaker of Parliament Yariv Levin, who has been involved in implementing plan, went even furr, calling Elhayani’s remarks “rude and irresponsible.” He said y exhibited an ungratefulness that was particularly damaging at a time when re was “an important effort to vance historic process of applying sovereignty” to parts of West Bank.
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Netanyahu has anunced that he will annex parts of West Bank, including strategic Jordan Valley and dozens of Jewish settlements, in line with Trump’s Mideast plan. He has signaled he will begin moving forward with annexation next month.
U.S. plan envisions leaving about one third of West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967, under permanent Israeli control, while granting Palestinians expanded automy in remainder of territory. Palestinians, who seek all of West Bank as part of an independent state, have rejected plan, saying it unfairly favors Israel.
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y have alrey cut off key security ties with Israel and say y are longer bound to agreements signed. On Thursday, Palestinians anunced y would refuse to accept tax money Israel routinely collects for m. moves have raised concerns of a return to violence if plan is actually carried out.
annexation plan has also come under harsh criticism from some of Israel’s closest allies, who say that unilaterally redrawing Mideast map would destroy any lingering hopes for establishing a Palestinian state and reaching a two-state peace agreement.
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13:11 IST, June 4th 2020