German Foreign Minister meets Netanyahu, relays concerns over annexation

Netanyahu tells the visiting minister Israel must ensure its 'vital interests', such as maintaining 'full security control' over the West Bank and Jordan Valley according to a statement by the PM's Office
Reuters, Ynet|Updated:
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German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a brief visit to Israel Wednesday, one month before Berlin assumes the European Union presidency, a role which gives it great influence in guiding EU policy.

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  • Netanyahu told the visiting minister that any realistic plan to end the Israeli Palestinian conflict, "must recognize the reality of Israeli settlement in the territory and not foster the illusion of uprooting people from their homes”, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
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    בנימין נתניהו פגישה עם שר החוץ של גרמניה הייקו מאס
    בנימין נתניהו פגישה עם שר החוץ של גרמניה הייקו מאס
    German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Prime Minister Netanyahu
    (Photo: EPA)
    The statement made no direct mention of annexation. But it said Netanyahu spoke of ensuring Israel’s “vital interests”, such as maintaining “full security control” over the West Bank
    Maas, speaking in a press conference in Jerusalem, expressed serious concern to Israel about its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, but he stopped short of threatening sanctions.
    Israel’s new unity government next month intends to begin discussing extending sovereignty to its settlements in territory that Palestinians claim for an envisaged independent state.
    The plan has been criticized by Arab and European powers as likely to finish off long-moribund efforts to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel says annexation would be in keeping with a unilateral plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in January.
    “I repeated here today the German position as well as our serious concerns as a special friend of Israel of the possible consequences of such a step,” Maas told reporters alongside his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.
    Mass also met with Defense Minister Benny Gantz who said Germany has a vital role in peace efforts in the Middle East and thanked the visiting dignitary for his involvement in his government's decision to outlaw the Lebanese based Hezbollah terror group
    From Israel, the minister was to travel to Amman, Jordan.




    First published: 21:06, 06.10.20
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    4.
    Mrs
    Why didn’t Maas go to Russia when they annexed the Crimean?
    NEumann| 07.11.20
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    3.
    jpost is desperate to have a olmert contributor
    olmert, who with peretz and halutz badly bungled the hezbollah war would not know security from a hole in the wall. he is a total narcissistic arrogant ignormaus. he thinks he knows security. from his ass he knows security. he says Israel does not need an Jordan valley because abdullah would station an international force on its border with an olmert assisted palestine. what this idiot fails to understand is jordan could fall at any moment, international forces are useless, in fact,elements in Jordan would assist arms smuggling into palestine. olmert doesn't know how to defend israel's borders. he is even worse than bibi. his interview with saudi news is unbelievable. olmert was a press officer, no more from my recollection. israel doesn't need him one bit. he would never have been pm if sharon had not taken ill/ he is as dumb on security than anyone in israel. terrror was at its height while olmert was offering death killing concessions. how the hell does Israel produce such morons in high positions. there is something terribly wrong in the country because olmert is not alone. He can go to hell as far as i am concerned. the bottom line is that Israel has to control its borders, no international force,no Jordanian,no Palestinian but Israeli soldiers.international forces were useless in Sinai when nasser booted them out and they are next to useless in Lebanon where Iran arms smuggling remains high. Olmert's views as an ex pm are dangerous for the state as they undermine Israeli deterrence and reduce its bargaining position. Olmert is a complete idiot on security.His ignorance in military sphere is breathtaking.If israel could, it should have stripped him of his citizenship.
    jeff| 06.12.20
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    2.
    maas-do not worry-bibi and gantz will not apply soverignty
    bibi will not annex the Jordan valley and half of area C. he can spin all he wants-his fear prevents him from doing it. gantz won't do it either. the new shimon peres wants permission from abdullah to do it. talk about a submissive israeli!!! bibi is alarmed at number of coronal infections. was he born yesterday? Is he a moron. school should not have been opened, yet he did so. and testing and tracking have not been expanded massively to trap infected clusters and isolate them. Bennett laid out the plan but this moron refused to follow. just like he never thought of a firefleet of planes to fight fires and went begging the world for water planes and materiel in the carmel fire. gantz and bibi who buggered up the Gaza war will do poorly against Hezbollah in the next round. then the media will wake up when hebollah conquers the Galilee and demand of gantz and bibi-what kind of idf are you!!!! bibi is scared of his shoelaces and gantz seems to have no fight in him at all.
    hal| 06.11.20
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