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Annexing Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem will end peace process: Palestinian presidency

Xinhua, January 19, 2017 Adjust font size:

Palestinian Presidency Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah said Thursday that legalizing the annexation of a Jewish settlement to Jerusalem would end the peace process, especially if it comes against the backdrop of the talk regarding moving the American embassy to Jerusalem.

"Any Israeli decision regarding annexing the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim will be regarded as dangerous escalation and will not be accepted," Abu Rudeinah said in a press statement published on the Palestinian official website WAFA.

His comments came in response to Israeli media reports about introducing a bill calling for the annexation of Ma'ale Adumim in the Knesset on Sunday, two days after the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump and his aides expressed support for Israeli settlements and the moving of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"The step will end any connection to any peace process, particularly if it is accompanied by moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem," said Abu Rudeinah, adding that "this step will lead to a new phase that cannot be controlled."

The spokesperson warned against any step that breaches UN resolution, particularly the recent resolution 2334, which deems Jewish settlements in the territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, as illegitimate.

"If Israel crosses the red line, then all red lines will be ruptured," he said, underscoring that "there will be no peace and no stability without the creation of an indecent Palestinian state on the borders in 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital."

On Dec. 23, the UN Security Council voted in favor of a resolution that condemns Israeli settlements and calls on Israel to halts its settlement activity in the Palestinian territories.

The issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank was deemed illegal by many world powers, including the United States, China and the European Union, and has contributed to the stalling of the peace process.

The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future state, while Israel says all of Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel. Endit