Europe Editor in the West Bank
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to outline his response to the growing recognition of a Palestinian state by the international community when he addresses the UN General Assembly this afternoon.
The address comes against intensifying diplomacy around the war in Gaza, with US President Donald Trump circulating a 21-point peace plan to a group of Arab and regional leaders.
Last night, President Trump said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.
Israeli officials have said Mr Netanyahu will wait until he returns to Israel before responding publicly to President Trump’s claim that annexation of the West Bank will not be permitted.
In an upsurge of diplomacy, there is renewed pressure to end the almost two year war in Gaza, which has claimed over 65,000 lives, according to local health officials.
This week, in an effort to put pressure on Israel to end the war, ten countries formally recognised the state of Palestine. In response, two far-right members of Mr Netanyahu’s cabinet said Israel should annex the West Bank in retaliation.
The pressure from the White House to prevent that happening now appears explicit.
It came after Mr Trump met Arab and Muslim leaders on the margins of the UN General Assembly.
The leaders informed the US President that annexation would have grave consequences.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he reached an understanding with President Trump on how to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza and Palestine after talks at the White House yesterday.
“Our meeting was very important in terms of putting forth the will to end the massacres in Gaza. Mr Trump stated during the meeting the need to end fighting in Gaza and reach lasting peace,” Mr Erdogan was cited as telling reporters according to a transcript shared by his office.
“We explained how a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza and the whole of Palestine, and lasting peace afterwards. An understanding was reached there,” he added.
“We said that the two-state solution was the formula for lasting peace in the region, that the current situation cannot continue.”
The White House will host the Israeli prime minister on Monday to discuss a 21 point peace plan envisages who would govern and secure Gaza once the conflict has ended, with an international supervisory body providing oversight of a Palestinian committee that would administer Gaza for an interim period.
