Germany's foreign minister on Wednesday warned Israel that its plan to extend sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria would violate international law, but he declined to say how Germany or Europe would respond.
The visit to Jerusalem – Heiko Maas' first trip outside of Europe since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic – comes just weeks before Israel intends to extend sovereignty over Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, in line with President Donald Trump's vision for peace plan.
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The annexation plan has come under harsh criticism from some of Israel's closest allies, including Germany, who say that unilaterally redrawing the Mideast map would destroy any lingering hopes for establishing a Palestinian state and reaching a two-state peace agreement.
Speaking at a news conference, Maas said that Germany and the European Union were seeking clarity about the Israeli plan, but he made it clear that Europe considers the sovereignty move incompatible with international law.
"I didn't set up any price tags. We are also in agreement in the EU that we seek dialogue with all parties to this process. I am here in Israel to receive information about the plans of the new government," Maas said, standing alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. "We still believe the negotiated two-state solution is the right way, that annexation will not make this solution more probable."
Germany, already a key European power broker, will be taking over both the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union and the presidency of the UN Security Council on July 1, the same day Israel says it may begin unfurling its plan.
"I made clear that the German government and the colleagues in the EU are very worried that annexation can lead to the two-state solution no longer being viable and that we are on the wrong path. It's the time of diplomacy and dialogue," Maas said.
Ashkenazi, a former military chief who recently assumed his post with the establishment of a new Israeli government, sought to reassure his guest.
"The plan will be pursued responsibly," he said. "We intend to do it in a dialogue with our neighbors."
Maas is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Later in the day, he will travel to neighboring Jordan to meet his counterpart there and hold a conference call with Palestinian leaders.
The US plan envisions leaving about one-third of Judea and Samaria under permanent Israeli control while granting the Palestinians expanded autonomy in the remainder of the territory if they meet certain criteria and no longer pose a threat to Israel.
The proposal also faces opposition within Israel, where many fear that the sovereignty move is a step that could lead to the creation of a single binational state with the Palestinians. Even some hardline settlers oppose the plan, saying it doesn't go far enough.
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