The European Union (EU) has warned Blue and White leader Benny Gantz of the consequences of implementing the agreement with Benjamin Netanyahu to annex Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea in the occupied West Bank to Israel.
A political source in Tel Aviv quoted European diplomats as saying that the EU’s message reached Gantz a week ago at the height of his negotiations with Netanyahu. The diplomat also believes the Israeli government received a similar warning.
EU officials spoke over the past few weeks with Gantz’s foreign affairs adviser, Melody Sucharewicz, and warned her that the Union strongly opposes any unilateral move to extend Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
The officials stressed that Gantz should be aware that any such move by a potential unity government would damage Israel’s relations with the EU.
Sucharewicz responded that Gantz was forced to compromise on his views on annexation, since he had chosen to insist on other things in the negotiations, relating to democratic values that the EU supports.
She also told the diplomats that Gantz would try to influence the decision from within the government if it is eventually formed.
Israel’s political crisis has not been resolved yet, but the two sides continue to negotiate.
So far, Gantz has abstained from using his position as Speaker of the Knesset to discuss any of the bills submitted by the members of Knesset, including one that prevents Netanyahu from assuming the premiership given that he faces corruption charges.
Observers believe this shows progress in the negotiations with Netanyahu, but a source close to Gantz said he will fully activate the Knesset starting Monday, in a hint that he still might believe negotiations might fail.
Gantz's former allies accuse him of falling for Netanyahu's trap. MK Merav Michaeli wondered why Gantz hasn't passed the bill that prevents a criminal offender from assuming the position of prime minister.
Meanwhile, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Gantz's former ally in Blue and White coalition, proposed a new bill to extend the mandate of the caretaker government, headed by Netanyahu, for a period of six months aimed at combating the coronavirus. But Gantz did not endorse this proposal.
Lapid said that Gantz claims he is negotiating with Netanyahu to form a new government on the pretext that the country is in an emergency.
He indicated his party will be supporting Netanyahu for six months to fight coronavirus and there is no need to give him more legitimacy with a coalition.
