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European ambassadors warn Israel over annexation plans

A group of 11 European ambassadors to Israel has made it clear that West Bank annexation plans will be met with fierce international objection.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini brief the media at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium December 11, 2017.  REUTERS/Francois Lenoir - RC122EB9C3C0

Eleven ambassadors of European countries registered a demarche with Israel’s Foreign Ministry on April 30, warning against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the West Bank this summer. The ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and Finland as well as the EU envoy met in a videoconference with the ministry’s deputy director for Europe, Anna Azari, to formally express their protest. The ambassadors addressed the Likud-Blue and White unity agreement of April 20, which allows Netanyahu to bring a proposal for applying Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank up for a vote as early as July 1.

A European diplomatic blitz against annexation has been mounting. EU foreign ministers discussed the issue at their monthly meeting on April 22. But with a lack of consensus over wording, EU high representative on foreign affairs Josep Borrell issued a warning on his own, stating, "The European Union reiterates that any annexation would constitute a serious violation of international law." Israel was quick to point out the inter-European disaccord and highlight the lack of a common EU statement.

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