UN official: Israeli annexation of West Bank 'serious violation of intl. law'

United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov says the Israeli regime's threat to annex much of the occupied West Bank constitutes a major violation of international law.

“The continuing threat of annexation by Israel of parts of the West Bank would constitute a most serious violation of international law, deal a devastating blow to the [so-called] two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace and our broader efforts to maintain international peace and security,” Mladenov said during a virtual UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

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The senior UN official then pointed to the upsurge in Israeli settler attacks against Palestinian land and property across the West Bank, in the period from April 14 to April 27 this year.

“In the reporting period, OCHA (the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) recorded 20 incidents in which Israeli settlers injured Palestinians or reportedly damaged their property, with a high concentration of incidents in the areas of Nablus and Ramallah Governorates,” Mladenov stated.

He said that it was time that all sides did their part in order to “preserve the prospect of a negotiated two-state resolution to the conflict, in line with internationally agreed parameters, international law and UN resolutions, adding, “These efforts must begin immediately; there is no time to lose.”

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On Tuesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the end of all agreements signed with Israel and the United States, after the new Israeli coalition cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced it would annex parts of the West Bank.

“The Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine are absolved, as of today, of all the agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments and of all the obligations based on these understandings and agreements, including the security ones,” Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying during an emergency meeting held in Ramallah to discuss the Israeli plans.

Palestinian president ends agreements with Israel, US over annexation

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared an end to all agreements with Israel and the United States in response to an Israeli regime’s plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

“The Israeli occupation authority, as of today, has to shoulder all responsibilities and obligations in front of the international community as an occupying power over the territory of the occupied state of Palestine,” he added.

Netanyahu, who was sworn into office for another term on Sunday, said in address to the Knesset (parliament) before the vote that his so-called unity administration must enforce Tel Aviv’s rule over settlements constructed in the occupied territory.

“It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism,” the 70-year-old Chairman of the Likud party said, in defiance of international outcry against his plan.

Netanyahu has set July 1 for the start of cabinet discussions on extending Israeli appropriation to settlements in the West Bank and annexing the Jordan Valley.

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