Palestinian leaders find themselves caught between difficult choices due to the escalating conflict amid Israel's plans to annex parts of the occupied territories. 

President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership have three main concerns with the upcoming annexation threat. On the international level, the Palestinians are finding mixed reactions. They are happy with the European response, which has been strong and consistent, exemplified by a May 18 statement from Joesp Borell, the high representative of the European Union, congratulating the new Israeli government while reminding it of international law and that Europe, like the rest of the world, has not and will not recognize any unilateral annexation. 

“[The] EU and its Member States recall that they will not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders unless agreed by Israelis and Palestinians,” Borell said. 

While the international community and international law are clear about the illegitimacy of taking land by war, the big problem remains the US attitude. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has backed away from his previous statement that the issue is solely an Israeli decision, and during his May 13 visit to Israel it became clear that Washington is not in favor of a July annexation date.