The European Union warned on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu´s pledge to annex the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank if he wins next week´s elections undermines peace in the region.
The Palestinians, as well as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey, strongly condemned Netanyahu´s comments on Tuesday, and the European Union said it would not recognize any change in the borders of the occupation entity that was not agreed by both sides.
"The policy of building and expanding settlements, including in Jerusalem, is illegal under international law and its continuation and actions taken in this context undermine the possibilities of a two-state solution and the chances of lasting peace," an EU spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.
In a televised speech, Netanyahu reiterated his intention to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected.
Such steps would effectively eliminate any remaining hope for a two-state solution aimed at ending the occupation, which has long been at the center of international diplomacy.
