Gantz: Israel will not wait for the Palestinians

Defense Minister signals that he will support unilateral application of sovereignty in the West Bank; Army Radio says Foreign Minister Ashkenazi is working behind the scenes to 'thwart' annexation plans
Yoav Zitun, i24NEWS|
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Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday said that though he is willing to enter direct talks with the Palestinians, Israel "will not wait forever", indicating that he could back the unilateral annexation of territory in the West Bank.
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  • “The Palestinians continue to reject dialogue. We might have to advance without them. We won't get into their deep shit,” he said.
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    סיור בני גנץ פיקוד העורף
    סיור בני גנץ פיקוד העורף
    Defense Minister Benny Gantz meeting with army officials
    (Photo: Defense Ministry)
    Gantz's comments came amid a meeting with defense officials who presented him with the various security concerns involving the initiative.
    “We won’t take Palestinians into our territory, we won’t harm human rights or the right of movement, we’ll work in coordination with regional countries and we’re in contact with them, we won’t endanger the peace agreements,” he said.
    Also on Tuesday, Army Radio reported that Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi is working behind the scenes to thwart Jerusalem's plans to annex territories in the West Bank.
    3 View gallery
    ועדת החוץ והביטחון: בקשת הממשלה להארכת תוקף הסמכת שירות הביטחון הכללי לסייע בצמצום התפשטות הקורונה
    ועדת החוץ והביטחון: בקשת הממשלה להארכת תוקף הסמכת שירות הביטחון הכללי לסייע בצמצום התפשטות הקורונה
    Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi
    (Photo: Knesset Channel)
    Citing a senior United Nations official, Army Radio quoted the source as saying there is “not a single logical reason for Israel to take a unilateral step” toward annexation.
    The unnamed UN official reportedly conveyed the same message to senior Israeli politicians.
    In response, Ashkenazi's office said the Foreign Ministry is fully committed to the Trump peace plan, but any move to extend Israel's sovereignty into the West Bank must be coordinated with Washington and countries in the region.
    Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov, who addressed an anti-annexation demonstration in Jericho on Monday, denied that he was the quoted Army Radio's source, according to The Jerusalem Post.
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    UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov
    UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov
    UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov
    (Photo: AP)
    Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday said that though he is willing to enter direct talks with the Palestinians, Israel "will not wait forever", indicating that he could back the unilateral initiative if there is no progress towards peace.
    “We won’t continue to wait for the Palestinians. If they say ‘no’ forever to everything then we’ll be forced to move forward without them,” he said.
    “We won’t take Palestinians into our territory, we won’t harm human rights or the right of movement, we’ll work in coordination with regional countries and we’re in contact with them, we won’t endanger the peace agreements,” he says in a briefing to reporters.
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    3.
    Mask?
    Why does every photo of Gantz in the papers show him with no mask, a mask on his chin or with his nose out? What sort of personal example does this Prime Minister wannabe set for the rest of the population? No wonder there is so little compliance and the virus is rampaging! SHAME ON HIM!
    Hal| 06.24.20
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    2.
    gabi, Israel does not want any more barak policies
    gabi, wake up to what happened in oslo. Rabin and peres offered plo concessions and a state minus. they responded with wholesale human destruction. Same thing happened to ehud barak whose concessions were offered by his blind arrogance . Later it was repeated by olmert prompted by his arrogance and absolute ignorance of security issues. Jpost should be ashamed of itself for offering him a platform to write his gibberish. It was reported previously if my recollection is accurate that you thought the Golan could be given away. if that was accurate, then you should resign your post as foreign minister and just go away. A defensive only strategy is suicide for Israel and that is what you have been advocating. Israel has other generals. It does not need to pursue Oslo again. As for impartial UN mladenov,, he showed his true colors didn't he????!!.
    joe| 06.23.20
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    1.
    What is there to wait for Pals?
    Palestinians are waiting for Israel to disappear through boycott or violence. They are not sitting there waiting for peace. So Israel should move forward with its own plans.
    Sam| 06.23.20
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