The UN Secretary General warns from Davos about the possibility of Israel seeking annexation of the West Bank
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the possibility of Israel moving towards annexation of the West Bank after signing a ceasefire in Gaza. “We are not clear about what will happen with the future of the ceasefire and the relationship between Palestinians and Israelis,” Guterres said from the Davos Economic Forum.
“One possibility is that Israel moves towards annexing the West Bank and creating a limbo situation in Gaza, but that will never bring peace to the Middle East,” said Guterres, who also said that the ceasefire “was a product of the intense work of many parties” and has carefully praised the role of the president of the United States, Donald Trump: “There has been an important contribution and robust diplomacy from the then president-elect.”
The way forward, the Secretary General has emphasized, must involve the “revitalization of the Palestinian National Authority and an open approach by Israel to move towards the two-state solution.”
His statements come after Israel began in the West Bank city of Jenin, north of the occupied Palestinian territory, a “large and significant” operation, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to it, which has included aerial bombardments and the ground incursion of troops. At least nine people have died.
Guterres has also referred to the situation in Lebanon and Syria. Regarding the first, he expressed his optimism about the ceasefire, which “has been sustained”, and the general outlook for the country, with the election of a new Government. “I am optimistic about Lebanon, he assured.”
Regarding Syria, he has said that it is the “big question.” “We have a new Government that is saying all the right things, but it is still a Government that corresponds only to part of the country. “We have seen signs of tolerance and openness, but we need that to be translated into reality.”
