The Palestinian government has decided to hold its weekly Sunday meeting in the Jordan Valley in a show of defiance against an Israeli government bill calling for the annexation of the region by the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
"The Palestinian government meeting will be held in the village of Ein al-Beida inside the Jordan Valley in response to Israeli actions targeting the region," Palestinian National Economy Minister Jawwad Naji told Anadolu Agency.
On Sunday, an Israeli government committee voted in favor of proposed legislation drafted by Likud Party MK Miri Regev calling for the annexation of the Jordan Valley, a large, fertile strip of land accounting for roughly one quarter of the occupied West Bank.
"The Palestinian leadership rejects any Israeli step that seeks to establish control over the Jordan Valley, which constitutes 29 percent of the West Bank," Naji said.
The minister warned that such a move could lead to "the collapse of peace talks and US [peace] efforts in the region."
"President [Mahmoud] Abbas stressed yesterday that the Jordan Valley is a red line for the Palestinian nation and leadership," he added.
Around 50,000 Palestinians and 9,500 Jewish settlers currently reside in the history-rich valley.
Israel sees the region as an economic and security buffer zone for its Jewish settlements and hopes to keep the area under its firm control in any future peace deal.
While the Palestinians demand the presence of Palestinian forces along the border with Jordan in any future peace agreement, Tel Aviv insists on having Israeli forces deployed along the eastern borders.
Israel has also rejected proposals for an international or US military presence on the borders with Jordan.
Since 1967, Israel has prevented the development of Palestinian towns in the Jordan Valley, adamantly refusing to grant building permits to local residents.
By Anees Barghouthi
englishnews@aa.com.tr
