Higher Education Minister Zeev Elkin played down on Tuesday the likelihood of major moves to apply Israeli sovereignty to settlements on July 1, the planned starting point for cabinet debate on the issue.
Elkin, who is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, said Israel still did not have the green light it seeks from Washington to begin extending its sovereignty.
"Whoever painted a picture of everything happening in one day on July 1, did so at their own risk," Elkin, minister of higher education, told Army Radio when asked what would happen on Wednesday. "From tomorrow, the clock will start ticking."
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The Trump administration's newly unveiled Vision for Peace stipulates that Washington will endorse an Israeli decision to apply sovereignty to about 30% of Judea and Samaria (including most of the Jordan Valley) as long as Israel commits to holding good-faith negotiations with the Palestinians and avoid construction in certain areas that could become part of a Palestinian state. That state will only be established four years after negotiations begin and only if the Palestinians fully renounce terrorism and carry out major reforms, and only if they are no longer considered a threat to Israel.
Palestinian leaders, the United Nations, European powers, and Arab countries have all denounced the plan.
No cabinet session for Wednesday has been announced.
US officials visited Israel this week as part of the White House's efforts to win consensus within its government for the sovereignty move.
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