UN chief hopes Israel decides against West Bank annexation

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope Tuesday that Israel will hear global calls and will t go ahe with annexation of parts of West Bank, which would undermine a two-state solution to deces-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

U.N. chief said in an interview with Associated Press that United Nations has been consistently conveying mess “that annexation would be t only against international law but it would be a major factor to destabilize region.”

He spoke ahe of a high-level U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday morning on Mideast where Israel’s plans to annex around 30% of West Bank in line with President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan is certain to be a major topic.

Guterres will speak before briefings from Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and U.N. Special Coordinator for Middle East Nickolay Mlev. France, which holds council presidency this month, said half a dozen foreign ministers are expected to take part, along with Palestinian foreign minister and Israel’s U.N. ambassor.

Israel captured West Bank from Jordan in 1967 Mideast war and has built dozens of settlements that are w home to nearly 500,000 Israelis, but it never formally claimed it as an Israeli territory due to stiff international opposition.

Palestinians, with wide international backing, seek territory as heartland of ir future independent state. Most of international community considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal under international law.

Trump ministration has taken a much softer line toward Israeli settlements than its predecessors. With Trump’s reelection prospects uncertain this vember, Israeli hard-liners have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move ahe with annexation quickly. Israeli leer’s new coalition deal includes an official clause allowing him to present his annexation plan to government starting July 1.

Such a unilateral move would all but dash Palestinian hopes of establishing a viable independent state and is vehemently opposed by Palestinians, Arab nations and most of rest of world.

Guterres said annexation “would undermine what I believe is necessary, which is a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live toger in peace, respect each or, and guarantee each or’s security.”

“I hope that this voice of reason that is t only mine, it is echoing across world, will be heard by Israeli authorities and that annexation does t take place on July 1,” he said.