Israel’s West Bank annexation opposed

The previous US administration left the conflict farther away from peace than eve

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Over 400 European parliamentarians have urged leaders to use Joe Biden’s new presidency as an opportunity to stop what they term as Israel’s “de-facto annexation” of the occupied West Bank.

A letter, seen by AFP, was signed by 400 European politicians, including members of national legislatures and senates, as well as members of the European parliament.

Addressed to foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the letter says “the Biden administration presents a chance to correct course,” in Middle East diplomacy.

“The previous US administration left the conflict farther away from peace than ever,” it added.

Former US president Donald Trump broke with much of the international consensus concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided capital” and moved Washington’s embassy there, infuriating the Palestinians who claim the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state.

Under Trump, the US State Department also said it no longer viewed Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal.

Trump’s widely criticized Middle East peace plan ear-marked a substantial part of the West Bank for Israeli annexation.

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank began following the Six Day War of 1967, the conflict that also saw it seize control of east Jerusalem, an area it later annexed.

The European Union insists any viable Israeli-Palestinian peace deal must be based on Israel’s pre-1967 borders, conditions rejected across much of the Israeli political spectrum.