PA official warns against Israeli annexation of illegal settlement

A senior Palestinian official warned on Thursday that if Israel goes ahead and annexes the illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adumim built on Palestinian land, the Palestinian Authority will put an end to the peace process. “Any Israeli decision regarding the annexation of Ma’ale Adumim will be regarded as a dangerous escalation and will not be accepted,” said PA Presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah.

According to Abu Rudeinah, such a step will end any connection to any peace process, “particularly if it is accompanied by moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.” He added that it could lead to a “new phase” that will be “uncontrollable”.

Annexation, explained the PA official, breaches UN resolutions, particularly the recent 2334, which deems Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, to be illegal. “If Israel crosses that red line, then all red lines will be ruptured,” he said. “There will be no peace and no stability without the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Israel’s right-wing Minister of Education, Naftali Bennet, has introduced a bill to parliament calling for the annexation of Ma’ale Adumim. He said that he will introduce the bill on Sunday, two days after Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.