Israeli Opposition Leader Gantz Vows to Annex Jordan Valley If Elected PM

• Israeli Opposition Leader Gantz Vows to Annex Jordan Valley If Elected PM
  by MEE staff, https://www.middleeasteye.net/
  The former army chief has also come out in favour of Donald Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ being released ahead of March election
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  Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz said on Tuesday that he would seek to annex the Jordan Valley – located in the eastern occupied West Bank – if elected prime minister in an upcoming election, Israeli media reported. Gantz made the statement during a tour of the region, calling the Jordan Valley “Israel’s eastern defensive barrier in any future conflict” and “an inseparable part of the State of Israel”.
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  The leader of the Blue and White Party said he would apply Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley “in coordination with the international community”, if he wins the election in six weeks’ time.
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  The vast majority of the international community – with the notable exception of the administration of US President Donald Trump – deems Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip a violation of international law.
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  Israelis will head to the polls on 2 March for the third time in a year, after neither Benjamin Netanyahu, the incumbent prime minister, nor his main rival Gantz, were able to form a government since the last legislative election, held on 17 September.
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  Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister ​​​​​​Naftali Bennett announced that he was launching a task force to impose Israeli sovereignty over Area C – the 61 percent of the West Bank under Israeli military control as per the 1993 Oslo Accords – and grant Israeli settlers an unprecedented right to own land privately.
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  Last week, he went on to announce that Israel would be establishing seven new nature reserves in the West Bank as part of efforts to maintain Israeli control of the area. All sites are located in Area C, which includes the strategic Jordan Valley.
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  The move is in line with a promise made by Netanyahu last September to annex the Jordan Valley “immediately” if re-elected prime minister. He also said he would move to annex illegal Israeli settlements following the completion of Jordan Valley’s annexation.
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  The Jordan Valley accounts for around one-third of the West Bank, and Israeli right-wing politicians have long viewed the strategic area as a part of the territory they would never retreat from.
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