Vatican summons Israel, US ambassadors over West Bank annexation

The Vatican has recognized Palestine as an independent state since February 2013. Parolin’s outreach comes as Israel is preparing to annex parts of the West Bank, land the Palestinians have long sought for a future state. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government will begin the process of annexation this month, conditional on US approval. Under the plan, Israel would extend its sovereignty over up to 30% of the disputed territory, including Jewish settlements and the fertile Jordan Valley. 

But Netanyahu’s coalition government missed its self-imposed deadline of July 1 to begin annexation talks. Defense Minister Benny Gantz reportedly told US diplomats that the Wednesday target was not “a sacred date” and that annexation may need to wait until after Israel has dealt with its novel coronavirus outbreak.

Israel’s plan to lay permanent claim to the land has been met with widespread condemnation from the United Nations, Arab League and much of the international community. It has also drawn criticism from the leaders of the Catholic and Anglican churches in the United Kingdom.

In an op-ed published this week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote that annexation would violate international law and be “contrary to Israel’s own long-term interests.” Last month, the UAE’s ambassador to the United States argued that annexation would hurt chances for rapprochement between Israel and the Arab world. 

Thousands of Palestinians gathered in Gaza City on Wednesday for a “day of rage” protest led by the militant group Hamas. Other protesters took to the streets for smaller, peaceful demonstrations across the West Bank.