Likud votes to annex parts of West Bank

TEL AVIV: In a landmark decision, the strongest political party in Israel – the Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – has called for the annexation of a large part of the West Bank.

Since a war in 1967, the West Bank has been occupied by Israel, which still controls large parts of it although it is regarded in international law as Palestinian territory.

More than a thousand members of the right-wing Likud adopted a resolution on Sunday calling for Israel to exercise “sovereignty” over parts of the West Bank and for the continued building of Jewish settlements, the Jerusalem Post said.

Settlements on occupied Palestinian territory are one of the most contentious aspects of the long-running dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Just over a year ago, under then president Barack Obama, the US allowed passage of a UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to Israel’s settlement activity in the West Bank, and calling the building a violation of international law.

President Donald Trump has pursued a more pro-Israel line.

The annexation resolution by the Likud central committee is not binding, but puts more pressure on Netanyahu, who was not present during the vote.

Most Likud ministers support the move, according to left-wing newspaper Haaretz, noting that Netanyahu did not use his authority to prevent the vote.

Some 600,000 Israelis live in over 200 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. – dpa