Foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, France and Germany have said they had discussed how to re-initiate ‘a fruitful engagement’ between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
The joint statement was released by the German Foreign Ministry after a video conference among the ministers on Tuesday July 7, 2020.
“We concur that any annexation of Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 would be a violation of international law and imperil the foundations of the peace process,” they said.
The four ministers promised their countries supports for any attempts to hold negotiations between the two neighbouring countries.
“We would recognize any changes to the 1967 borders that are not agreed upon by both parties in the conflict.
“We also concur that such a step would have serious consequences for the security and stability of the region, and would constitute a major obstacle to the efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and just peace,” they said.
Any changes to Isreal’s eastern border would impact relations between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany, according the ministers.
“Changes to Israel’s border could also have an impact on relations with Israel,” they warned.
Recently, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke out against Isreal extending its sovereignty during a phone conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night, 6 July, 2020.
Johnson encouraged Netanyahu to negotiate with the Palestinians, while reiterating ‘his personal support for Israel”.
As part of US President Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced last month that his government would formally annex the Jordan Valley and all settlement blocs in the West Bank.
The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is viewed as occupied territory under international law, thus making all Jewish settlements there – as well as the planned annexation – illegal.
Palestinian officials have threatened to abolish bilateral agreements with Israel if it goes ahead with the annexation, which will further undermine the two-state solution.
The majority of the international community including the European Union members do not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over territories that it has occupied since 1967.
