A UN rights investigator urged the European Union on Friday to consider measures to prevent or punish any Israeli move to apply sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria, a few days after over 1,000 European lawmakers made a similar call.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to the matter on Wednesday, calling on Israel to abandon the initiative, warning it threatened any chance of negotiated peace with the Palestinians who seek statehood in the territory.
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Friday's statement by Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, said the EU should back up its warnings against Israeli plans with "a decisive menu of counter-measures."
That is a reference to possible economic, trade, or other sanctions. The EU has said the sovereignty bid must not go unchallenged.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set July 1 as the date for the start of cabinet discussions on moving forward on annexation.
US President Donald Trump's peace plan for the region envisages Israel incorporating most of its Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria into "contiguous Israeli territory," and Palestinian statehood elsewhere under strict conditions.
Trump has also offered US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley.
On June 23, European lawmakers called for "commensurate consequences" if Israel goes ahead with the sovereignty bid.
"We have reached a point where resolutions without resolve can no longer contribute to reaching the just and durable peace and human security that Palestinians and Israelis deserve," Lynk said.
However, internal documents and Reuters interviews with more than two dozen diplomats and officials show there is no clear EU strategy on how to stop Israel's plan or how to respond in a meaningful way if the sovereignty bid goes ahead.
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