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Netanyahu's plan to annex Jordan Valley kills all chances for Palestinian state

While political leaders are lining up to oppose the threats to the two-state solution posed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pre-election statement, a closer look at the devastating effects on the ground shows that the viability of a Palestinian state would be threatened if annexation of the Jordan Valley is carried out.
Members of the media work as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walks after holding a weekly cabinet meeting in the Jordan Valley, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 15, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1DC97D0610

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sept. 10 that he plans to annex the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank if he wins in the legislative elections today, there was initially no response from the Arab states. While a number of traditional Palestinian allies did speak up, the implications of such a move go far beyond normal political disputes.

In a significant move, Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Sept. 12 to condemn Netanyahu and insist that the Saudis are strongly opposed to the annexation move.

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