Issued on: 23/06/2020 – 07:33Modified: 23/06/2020 – 07:33
Thousands of Palestinians on Monday demonstrated against US President Donald Trump's plan for the Middle East that includes Israel's annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.
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The protest in Jericho, in the south of the Jordan Valley, came in response to a call by Fatah, the party of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, AFP reporters said.
It was the largest rally of its kind since Trump in January unveiled his controversial plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, which gives Israel a green light to annex West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce as soon as July 1 his strategy to implement Trump's plan.
The Palestinians have rejected the plan and have been trying to rally international support against it.
"If Israel annexes there won't be any land left for a Palestinian state," said protester Mohammed Ishloon, 47, who came to the demonstration from the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp outside Jericho.
"We will not let Israel steal our lands," added demonstrator Kamal Said.
As Palestinians hold protests in the city of Jericho, Catholic and Protestant leaders in Jerusalem express concern about Israels plans to annex portions of the occupied West Bank.https://t.co/1lMJcebD0c
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 22, 2020
'Not for sale'
Israel's annexation plan envisions the creation of a Palestinian state, but on reduced territory and without meeting the key Palestinian demand of having its capital in east Jerusalem.
Protesters in Jericho held up signs that said "Palestine is not for sale" and "No Palestinian state without the Jordan Valley".
The UN's special Middle East envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, joined the protest and criticised Israel's US-backed annexation plan, saying it could "kill" peace and Palestinian statehood.
Today, I joined #EU, #Russia, #China, #Japan, #Jordan to express support to the #Palestinian people. My message was simple— do not stray away from the path of non violence, do not lose hope for a Palestinian state living side-by-side and in peace with #Israel.
— Nickolay E. MLADENOV (@nmladenov) Read More – Source
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