Khalil Tafakji, Director of the Maps Department at Bayt Al Sharq, confirmed that
The Israeli occupation authorities daily consolidate the process of annexing the Jordan Valley and settlements in a practical way, through a system of successive policies and procedures aimed at making these areas effectively part of the occupying state, and now they will only approve the political and legal cover for the actual annexation process, whether through decisions taken by the Israeli government or the Knesset .
Tafkaji made these statements during a meeting via "Zoom" technology organized by the Palestinian Center for Democratic Dialogue and Political Development in Gaza, in the presence of a crowd of politicians, faction leaders, writers, journalists and researchers, about the effects of the annexation policy and ways to confront it, and unifying Palestinian efforts in the face of Israeli policy and the Trump-Netanyahu deal .
Tafkaji explained that the Israeli occupation turned a large part of the Jordan Valley lands after its occupation in 1967 into closed military areas, military training areas, and natural reserves, pointing out that the Palestinian population present in this area does not exceed 65,000 people, including Jericho residents, compared to 25 settlements inhabited by 11 thousand Israeli settlers.
He pointed out that the process of annexing the Jordan Valley was carried out on the ground in practice, but Israel is trying to take a political and legal decision, and impose Israeli law on it, as "part of the Hebrew state, and not part of the Palestinian state."
He explained that if Israel imposes legal measures on these lands, the Palestinians in that area will not obtain Israeli citizenship or Israeli identity as is the case for Palestinians in the year 48, and they will be considered as foreigners within the borders of the Israeli state, and that Israel seeks to control the territories "in a way Legal "with American protection, for political and security reasons, as well as control over the water and natural resources found in the Jordan Valley, which will provide about $ 100 million to Israel annually.
He explained that one of Israel´s goals to control this area lies in completely isolating the Palestinians, and placing them between two isolates, namely the Jordan Valley from the eastern region, and the Apartheid Wall in the western region.
Tafkaji stressed that Israel is seeking to annex about 60% of the West Bank (Area C) by way of total or partial annexation, and he said: "Although there is an Israeli consensus on the issue of annexing Jerusalem, there is a dispute over the issue of annexing the Jordan Valley region, there is Part of the Israeli political parties rejects Israel´s takeover of that area, arguing that it does not need a current increase in the area of ​​the Israeli state, and another part agrees to the annexation.
He added: "The Israeli settlements, which are based on about 8%, want to control 22% of the Ghor area, bringing the total to 30%, and this is considered illegal control, and Israel is trying to turn it into a legal order under American pressure."
Tafkaji stressed that the approval that Israel needs to start acquiring these areas is legal and political approval, through the unanimity of political parties and the Knesset, noting that the annexation makes Israel control over a larger area of ​​the Palestinian state’s territory, cuts its ties, and denies it access to its Arab surroundings. In addition to the consequent fears of a voluntary emigration to Jordan (and not by violence as a migrant 48), through the restrictions that will get Palestinian citizens there.
For his part, Dr. Jamal Al Baba, a researcher at the Palestinian Planning Center, said that Israel is focused on obtaining the "legality" of annexing four main pillars, namely: that the lands from the sea to the river are the lands of the State of Israel, and that the areas of the valley, the outposts, Jerusalem, and the sea The dead are vital areas, and Israel cannot relinquish them, and the region between the sea and the river must remain under full Israeli control, and the right to self-determination is exclusive to the Jews, and that no Palestinian entity, whatever its size, will communicate with the outside, and the areas will remain subject to control Israeli security.
The Pope pointed out that the annexation plan includes transferring 30% of the Palestinian territories to Israeli control, and 70% of these areas will remain under the name of Palestinian control, and this is what was proposed in the deal of the century, explaining that the settlement blocs that currently control 8-10% of the area The West Bank, in addition to the valley that Israel seeks to control (constitutes about 22% of the area of ​​the West Bank), knowing that the area of ​​the expanded valley constitutes 30% of the area of ​​the West Bank, in addition to the issue of Jerusalem, which is considered settled for Israel, as part of the Israeli state, (It now constitutes 70 square kilometers, and it is annexed to Israel.)
Khaled Al-Batsh, coordinator of the Follow-up Committee of the National and Islamic Forces, said that facing the challenges experienced by the national issue needs to activate joint work, develop the capabilities of our people in facing the occupation and its policies, through more national unity and ending the division, and formulating a national strategy that maximizes the capabilities of the confrontation, and ensures Real partnership in political decision, expanding confrontation with occupation and settlement.
In turn, Walid Al-Awad, a member of the political bureau of the People´s Party, said that the decisions of the Palestinian leadership to disengage from the signed agreements are an important step in the right direction, and it is required that they be accompanied by the consolidation of popular resistance and the development of tools of national struggle in the face of settlement and annexation and the preservation of the geographical, legal and political unity of the occupied territories. In the year 1967 AD, he cut the road to the occupation policy that aims to separate the Gaza Strip and the uniqueness of each region separately.
The writer, Muhammad Hijazi, demanded to take advantage of the Palestinian capabilities, adhere to international law and international legitimacy to confront the annexation decisions, and go to the international courts to pursue the Israeli war criminals, while Dr. Khaled Shaaban, director of the Palestinian Planning Center, considered that inclusive dialogue and joint action and the start of a battle to confront the policies of the occupation is the basis of movement For all Palestinians and address the current crisis of the deal and division.
Dr. Talal Abu Rukbah called on the forces and institutions to move quickly in the face of the policies of annexation, while Tawfiq Abu Shomer, an expert in Israeli affairs, called for the speedy decision-making to stop settlement and Israeli expansion, pointing out that this will not happen as long as the internal division between the Palestinian people continues.
