China voices concern over Israel’s West Bank annexation plan

Source: South China Morning Post

May 21 2020

By Wendy Wu

• Chinese ambassador to the UN says two-state solution the only way forward

• The Palestinians can count on Beijing’s continued support to build independent state, envoy says

China has said it is “deeply concerned” about Israel’s plan to annex the West Bank, joining opposition to a move that could inflame the region.

“The two-state solution is the only viable way forward to solve the Palestinian question. We urge the relevant party to stop any unilateral action and refrain from escalating conflicts and tension,” Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, said at a meeting at the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

“It’s also our firm opposition that no country should back such unilateral actions. China shares the view that the Security Council should discharge its mandate and do its part to prevent such a dangerous unilateral action.”

After the swearing-in of Israel’s new government on the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again repeated his intention to annex the West Bank.

“The time has come to apply sovereignty to the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria,” he said, referring to the West Bank, where Palestinians have hopes of establishing a state.

In response, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas declared that the authority would no longer abide by agreements with Israel and the United States, including those on security cooperation.

But Abbas did not set out a timetable or a mechanism for such a withdrawal.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he regretted Abbas’ decision and hoped Israel and the Palestinians would keep security agreements in place.

Zhang said the Palestinian question was at the root of the turbulence in the Middle East.

“The Palestinian people can also count on China’s continued support to their just cause to restore legitimate national rights,” Zhang said.

“We fully support Palestinians in building an independent and sovereign state on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We will work closely with the international community in the pursuit of comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

The status of the West Bank has become increasingly sensitive since US President Donald Trump took office. On January 28, the US referred to Jerusalem as “Israel’s undivided capital” and backed Israel’s sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.

The two-state solution refers to an independent state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, west of the Jordan River.