EUROPEAN Union countries are planning to issue Israel with a warning not to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in an attempt to head off a diplomatic clash.

The bloc is alarmed by the incoming Israeli unity government’s plans to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which it said would violate international law and harm the chances of peace with the Palestinians.

But, there is no agreement among EU states on what punitive action to take should Israel press ahead with the move, which has the support of US President Donald Trump.

In an interview with AFP, Luxembourg’s veteran foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said he discussed a declaration with his EU counterparts in video talks on Friday.

“A very large number of countries on Friday supported a draft text that we drew up with my Irish counterpart, Simon Coveney, in which we warn against an annexation that would be a violation of international law.”

He said Austria and Hungary refused to sign the declaration, so it cannot not be issued in the name of all 27 EU members.

“But the fact that a very large number of countries support this line is a success.”

The Israeli unity government formed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former rival, Benny Gantz, is due to be sworn in today, and the plan is for an EU statement to be issued tomorrow.

“We are not talking about sanctions. We’re talking about prevention. This text is not aggressive,” said Asselborn.

The four-point statement welcomes the new government and recalls the EU’s close ties with Israel, but warns that annexation would violate international law.

“The EU wants to cooperate with neighbouring states and countries in the region, and reiterates its support for a negotiated two-state solution for a viable peace perspective between Israelis and Palestinians,” said Asselborn.

“There is no alternative to this solution. No one has presented another viable solution.”

The EU has criticised Trump’s Middle East peace plan, unveiled in January, which gives Israel the green light to annex key parts of the West Bank.

“If we don’t succeed in convincing Israel to give up its project, the hardest part will be ahead of us,” said Asselborn.

After Friday’s talks, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he will make a concerted diplomatic push to try and steer Israel away from annexations.

However, he admitted that there are deep divisions among EU nations, as some like Asselborn push for a tough line and others argue for dialogue.

A European official insisted that options for punitive measures are in place: freezing bilateral agreements, suspending scientific cooperation, cancelling trade preferences and recalling ambassadors.

But, adopting such measures requires unanimity among all EU countries. – AFP, May 17, 2020.