Saeb Erekat: ‘I was not surprised by Netanyahu's statement about his intention to annex parts of the West Bank’

Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the PLO Saeb Erekat said that Israel will “rudely” continue to violate international law as long as it is enjoying immunity and impunity by the international community, “especially with the support of President Trump’s administration and its support for Israel’s violation of the national and humanitarian rights of the Palestinian people.”

Erekat added: “We will continue our calls for our rights through international forums, including the International Criminal Court, until we achieve the long-awaited justice.” He added that he was not surprised by Netanyahu’s statements on his intention to annex parts of the West Bank to Israel, in case he is reelected.

Erekat stated last month that the US president’s next step might be the annexation of the West Bank and recognition of the state of Gaza under the banner of Hamas movement, after Trump’s recognition of the annexation of the Golan to Israel.

READ: Netanyahu vows to annex West Bank after Israeli polls

Netanyahu said on Saturday that he intends to annex parts of the West Bank to Israel, stressing that he will not remove any settlement from the region and will, of course, seek to take control over West Jordan.

Netanyahu explained that in the event of further withdrawal, there are fears of the emergence of “another Gaza Strip in the West Bank.”