Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to discuss the West Bank annexation and their party’s reservations over its implementation.
According to informed sources, both Blue and White Party leaders expressed deep concerns and reservations over means of raising this issue and its implementation without dialogue with the Palestinians.
They said the unilateral action would cause great damage and have very negative effects on Israel’s interests.
Gantz confirmed the reported on the US administration’s reconsideration of the annexation in terms of implementation and date, sources revealed.
They said the US is preoccupied with its internal popular protests. It is also taking into consideration objections from Arab countries and differences between Israeli settlers and the hostility some of them expressed against President Donald Trump.
Gantz and other Israeli officials have recently received messages from Washington that the move would have to be delayed due to the mass American protests over the death of George Floyd, Ynet news reported.
“We are in an ongoing dialogue with the Americans and other parties to end up with a balanced plan,” he explained, adding that he respects the US demand.
“The Americans are over the head with protests and coronavirus, therefore annexation is not their top priority right now,” said an Israeli official.
The official also said the US administration hoped for wider support for such a move - a consensus that is not in place at present.
Washington instructed Netanyahu to halt the annexation plans after the White House received angry and opposing messages from influential Arab countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, a prominent Israel official was quoted as saying.
During a meeting with the eleven settlement leaders who do not oppose Trump's annexation proposal, Netanyahu stressed he still does not have a “green light” from the White House to move forward with his plan.
He told settler leaders that the details and the maps have not been agreed to yet with the Trump administration.
Israel needs to seize the opportunity now with Trump in the White House, the Premier stressed. “We must not make Trump think we are not interested in annexation,” Netanyahu said, adding that he will seek to resolve these matters before the US elections.
