Palestinian protests erupt over Netanyahu’s promise to annex Judea, Samaria

In a press conference earlier this month, Netanyahu announced his intention to immediately extend Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea area

By World Israel News Staff

Palestinians assembled at an abandoned hotel near Jericho to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise to apply sovereignty to the Jordan Valley along with all Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria.

IDF soldiers were called upon to disperse the demonstration, and despite some resistance no one was arrested.

Last week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations General Assembly in New York that he would end all signed agreements with Israel, and warned that a religious war could erupt over Israel’s policies in Jerusalem.

“We reject entirely and completely this illegal plan. Our response, if any Israeli government is to proceed with this plan, all signed agreements with the government of the occupation and any obligations therein will be terminated,” he said.

In a press conference earlier this month, Netanyahu announced his intention to immediately extend Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea area should he be re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as Israel’s leader.

“I believe that democracy obliges that I present to you before the elections and not afterwards what I intend to do if you choose me… I want to request from you a clear mandate to extend Israeli sovereignty on all the settlements,” he said. “There’s one place in which it’s possible to extend Israeli sovereignty immediately after the elections if I receive from you, the citizens of Israel, a clear mandate to do it… Today, I reveal my intention to annex the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea.”

Netanyahu’s political rivals accused the prime minister of making the announcement to further his own political goals rather than doing what’s in the best interest of the nation.