Top PLO official urges world action, not words, to block West Bank annexation
The senior Palestinian official leading Ramallah’s diplomatic effort to thwart Israel’s annexation plans is calling on world leaders to go beyond rebuke and demonstrate to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there will be real-world repercussions if he moves forward with the measure.
“What we’re telling them is that Netanyahu can survive statements of condemnation, but he needs to hear that there will be backlash and consequences as well,” said Saeb Erekat, the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee.
Erekat, the close confidant to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, spoke with The Times of Israel against the backdrop of this month’s coalition agreement between Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz, which allows the premier to begin advancing legislation to annex large parts of the West Bank starting July 1.
