Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during a TV broadcast while showing a plan for occupation of territories in the Jordan Valley

Geneva, 4 February 2020 – “In line with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the EU does not recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied since 1967. Steps towards annexation, if implemented, could not pass unchallenged”.

The EU Foreign Policy chief, Joseph Borrell made clear in a statement the bloc is not prepared to accept the Middle East peace plan for a solution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine announced by Trump last January. The plan has been strongly rejected by the Palestinian Authority’s leader Abbas who Saturday 1st February announced the end of any security cooperation with Israel.

“The EU – he said – recalls its commitment to a negotiated two-State solution, based on 1967 lines, with equivalent land swaps, as may be agreed between the parties, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition as set out in the Council Conclusions of July 2014. The US initiative, as presented on 28 January, departs from these internationally agreed parameters”.

Then calling on Israeli and Palestinians to re-engage and to refrain from any unilateral actions against international law, Borrell expressed the 27 members’ concerns about “statements on the prospect of annexation of the Jordan Valley and other parts of the West Bank”; the Union will challenge any steps towards occupation  of new territories.

Palestine: EU concerned by statements on annexation of the Jordan Valley “The US initiative departs from internationally agreed parameters for a two-State solution”