Highly unlikely the US will approve Israeli plans to start unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank on July 1

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – It is highly unlikely the US will approve Israeli advancement of plans to unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank on July 1, a well-placed source told the Times of Israel (TOI) Wednesday. A central condition of US approval is that a joint US-Israel mapping committee must conclude its work on delineating the exact borders of the territory Israel would annex. According to the TOI source, it could take the committee weeks, if not months, to complete this task.

The Trump administration has indicated it would support annexation if it were carried out in accordance with a US peace plan published earlier this year. And, under the Israeli government coalition deal agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz, the PM can only ask the Knesset to vote on annexation plans that have been approved by the US.

However, a necessary member of the American side of the mapping committee, the National Security Council’s Israel and Palestinian affairs director Scott Leith, has been unable to travel to the region since the COVID-19 pandemic, TOI reports. Even if Leith were able to travel in upcoming days, it is still unlikely the committee could finish its work before July 1.

In addition, senior adviser to President Trump, Jared Kushner, and special envoy to the peace process Avi Berkowitz has not been to Israel since the peace plan was published in January. According to TOI sources, it was “highly unlikely” the US would support any annexation until these officials were able to have final discussions with Israeli officials in Jerusalem.

Likud ministers have acknowledged the plan will likely be delayed, TOI reported. On Sunday Likud Knesset Member Ze’ev Elkin told TOI: “I know they’re working on the map, and that process could take some more time. July 1 is the first day when the matter can be brought to the cabinet and the Knesset. It could possibly take a few more days or weeks, but generally, I think the prime minister is very clear that he intends to advance this.”

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