Mona Kandil
Press TV, Ramallah
The joint American-Israeli committee on annexing Israeli settlements is ready to start working.
According to Israeli daily, Israel Hayom, the committee is tasked with mapping out areas of the occupied West Bank in which Israel would apply its sovereignty, based on the US so-called deal of the century.
The committee includes US ambassador to Israel David Friedman and his adviser Aryeh Lightstone, while the Israeli team is composed of Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, acting director of the Prime Minister’s Office Ronen Peretz, and Likud Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin.
The committee was introduced by Trump last month during the unveiling of the details of his so-called deal of the century. It refers to Jerusalem al-Quds as “Israel’s undivided capital” and recognizes Israeli sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.
Netanyahu is being pressured by right-wing lawmakers and many settler leaders to announce the immediate annexation of all settlements before Israelis head to the polls next month. Experts, however, say it is impossible.
At the end of the day, the Palestinians’ future state would consist of scattered lands linked together via bridges and tunnels. As the new map will be giving Israel over 62 percent of the west bank lands, Palestinians want to have their state on.
Experts say Netanyahu is wishing to show to Israelis that the committee on settlement annexation is working effectively and rapidly in an attempt to elevate him and his Likud party ahead of the elections on March the second.