”There are various areas that Israel will never be given away even in the framework of an historical compromise with the Palestinians. ’The only area that is discussed now for annexation is the Jordan Valley, where there is almost no Palestinian population  compared to the other cities in Judea and Samaria. It is vital for Israel’s security because it’s the border between Israel and Jordan. No Israeli government, even if it is led by the most extreme left will agree to dissociate the Jordan Valley as a border essential for the security of Israel.’’

‘’I am sure that if the Palestinians will enter negotiations according to the Trump plan or according to any plan and will go back to the negotiation table with Israel, there will be no unilateral decision of Israel on annexation or any such decision,’’ said Israeli cabinet Minister Tsachi Hanegbi.

Answering questions from Jewish community leaders about reactions in Europe to  an eventual annexation by Israel of parts of the West Bank, the minister told a zoom conference organised by the European Jewish Association (EJA) on the occasion of Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day: ‘’ For 53 years since the Six Day War, Israel has not annexed any part of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) besides half of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was reunited by the Labour government in 1967 right after the Six Day War. Since then,  even though right wing governments were in power for almost 40 years out of these 53 years, we never had a formal decision to annex those areas. Even though they are the heart of our homeland, of our history. We have a Biblical taboo on these areas but still we understood the complexities and sensitivity of a unilateral annexation.’’

He said Israel has reached peace accords with Egypt and Jordan and ‘’we believe that there is also a possibility of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians.’’ However, he stressed that there are various areas that Israel will never be given away even in the framework of an historical compromise with the Palestinians. ‘’The only area that is discussed now for annexation is the Jordan Valley, where there is almost no Palestinian population  compared to the other cities in Judea and Samaria. It is vital for Israel’s security because it’s the border between Israel and Jordan. No Israeli government, even if it is led by the most extreme left will agree to dissociate the Jordan Valley as a border essential for the security of Israel.’’

He explained that this possible annexation of the Jordan Valley was discussed lately with the American  administration as part of President Trump’s  peace plan which foresees tht Israel will be able to annex areas like the Jordan Valley in due time.

‘’If the Palestinians will refuse to renew the negotiations with Israel, like they did since six years, if there will be no hope for dialogue, Israel will have to make its own decision,’’ said Hanegbi, who is currently  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Minister of Regional Cooperation.

Israel is going to establish a unity government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gatz, leader of the Blue and White party and former IDF chief of staff,  ‘’probably next week’’ according to the minister, to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

‘’So in the next several months we are not going to deal with political issues of the annexation, peace and security. Only to deal with this medical issue and of course the economic ramifications of the crisis,’’ Hanegbi, a national security expert, said.

He noted that in the Netanyahu-Gantz coalition agreement signed last week, the Prime Minister is allowed to raise the issue of annexation in the context of the Trump initiative, to the Knesset and to the government. The minister added: ‘’Only then, probably in July, this issue will be addressed by Israel’s parliament.  Of course we will not be able to do it if the Trump administration will reject or oppose it. They said that they will oppose it if there will be any a chance of negotiation with the Palestinians. I personally believe that if the Palestinians are ready to discuss the future of those territories, it is much better than any unilateral initiative. But it is still a question mark whether the Palestinian Authority will come back to the negotiation table.’’