UN Secretary General Urges Israel To Cancel Planned Annexation Of West Bank

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Gueterres urged Israel to cancel its plan to annex West Bank settlements. He considered the Israeli Government's steps to threaten Palestinian peace.

"We are at the most decisive moment," Gueterres said yesterday, quoted on the UN website. "If implemented, annexation will be the most serious violation of international law," he added.

In addition, Gueterres said the Israeli annexation plan could threaten the prospect of a solution between the two countries and could damage the negotiation process. Therefore, "I ask the Israeli government to cancel its annexation plan," said Gueterres urging the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile Gueterres called on Middle East mediators - United States, Russia, European Union and United Nations - to take on the mandated mediation role and find a mutually agreed framework for the parties concerned. "Without preconditions with us (the UN) and other major countries," said Gueterres.

Apart from the UN Secretary General, the Chairman of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit also echoed the same thing. He said Israel's annexation endangered peace in the Middle East and could trigger a religious war.

Earlier Netanyahu's Cabinet said it was preparing to hold a meeting on July 1. Discusses the annexation of the West Bank, the territory they captured in the 1967 war.

Israel's plan certainly gets the green light from the US President's Government on its annexation plan. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that extending Israel's sovereignty is a decision made for Israelis.