RAMALLAH, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Monday called on the international community to boycott Israel and to recognize the Palestinian state if the Israeli government goes ahead with its annexation plan.
Prime Minister of Palestine Mohammad Ishtaye said at the cabinet meeting that a united position by all world powers against Israel would lead to halting its measures aimed to annex parts of the West Bank.
"Condemnation statements do not work with Israel, the response to annexation must be actual boycott and the recognition of the Palestinian state over 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and honoring the right of return for Palestinian refugees," said Ishtaye.
Ishtaye said that the territory in the Jordan Valley at risk of annexation by Israel is nearly 30 percent of the West Bank's area and is very rich with underground water and fertile agricultural soil.
"The Palestinian state's geography stands on this area, together with East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and all Palestinian territories," he said, adding "the Jordan Valley is our meeting point with Jordan, through which we go out to the world."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party, signed an agreement with his competitor Benny Gantz, the leader of Blue and White Party, to form a unity government, including a mutually accepted point to impose Israeli sovereignty on territories "that are part of the historic lands of Israel" as of July 1.
Moreover, the Palestinian prime minister stressed that Israel is taking several measures at the same time with the aim to weaken the Palestinian Authority and exhaust it financially. Enditem
