Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has affirmed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will not wait for Israel’s annexation decision to be implemented to respond.
In a symposium organized by the Middle East Institute (MEI) through a video conference, Shtayyeh said there is no difference between announcing a decision and its implementation.
“The greatest challenge faced by Palestinians today is Israel’s looming threat to annex, since it would effectively end the possibility of a Palestinian state.”
The annexation decision, he explained, will affect the main components this country cannot exist without, which are Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, lands in areas classified as (C) and the Jordan Valley.
Annexing the Jordan Valley does not only end the two-state solution, he noted, but also constitutes a threat to the regional security and stability, and the principle of adherence to international decisions.
He announced that the Palestinian leadership will meet on Saturday with all Palestinian political factions to decide on an appropriate response to the annexation.
Chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas, the conferees are expected to agree on serious decisions, and announce the response strategy to any possible Israeli annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.
A meeting was held on Thursday for representatives from the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee and Fatah Central Committee.
Discussions focused on developing responses to Israel’s annexation plans and means to face possible political, economic and security repercussions.
The PA is expected to suspend all its agreements with the United States and Israel.
In a recorded speech on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of Nakba Day, Abbas said Palestine will reconsider all agreements with Israel or with the US, and will rescind all such deals if Israel announces its annexation of any occupied Palestinian land.
“Those who created our Nakba wanted Palestine to be a land without people or territories and were betting that it will be removed from history records,” he said.
His comments came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Israel on Wednesday to discuss annexation plans with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
