Netanyahu: We want to annex settlements with US support

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared yesterday that the annexation of occupied West Bank territory must take place with – not without – American support, reported the Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu was speaking on an election campaign visit to the Jordan Valley region of the West Bank.

“We have brought about an unequivocal statement from [US] President [Donald] Trump that he will recognise the application of our sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead Sea and on all of our communities [settlements] in Judea and Samaria [West Bank],” said Netanyahu.

This means “all of them without any exception”, Netanyahu emphasised, “adding that it also include the vast area that surrounded them,” reported the Jerusalem Post.

Under the Trump administration’s plan, the prime minister said, Israeli annexation of territory can take place without “Palestinian consent”.

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Netanyahu continued:

We are going to do this with the agreement of the Americans, because this can’t be a one-sided act. We want US consent and we have it.

The veteran Likud leader was speaking at the Mevot Yericho settlement, which was transformed from an unauthorised outpost into an official settlement in a special cabinet vote last September.

Yesha Council head and Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Elhayani thanked Netanyahu for his efforts on behalf of the settlements.

“Thank you [for] the development of the [Jordan] Valley,” Elhayani said. “Immediately after the application of sovereignty you should authorise the creation of five new communities here.”

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