Page 28 - bon-dia-aruba-20200609

A28 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 9 June 2020
Settler leader: Netanyahu moving ahead with annexation plans

By ARON HELLER partner, Defense Minister
Associated Press Benny Gantz, has reserva-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime tions about the plan. The
Minister Benjamin Netanya- report said that U.S. Am-
hu has assured Jewish set- bassador David Friedman
tlers that he is going ahead met with the two men in
with plans to begin annex- an attempt to bridge their
ing parts of the occupied differences.Netanyahu has
West Bank next month, a said he wants to annex
settler representative said parts of the West Bank, in-
Monday. cluding the strategic Jor-
Netanyahu told a group dan Valley and dozens of
of settler leaders late Sun- Jewish settlements, in line
day that President Donald with Trump's Mideast plan.
Trump's Mideast plan al- He's lauded the move as a
lowing the annexation has historic opportunity to es-
not been finalized, Oded tablish Israel's permanent
Revivi, mayor of the Efrat borders, without having to
settlement, told The Associ- evacuate a single settler.
ated Press. But Netanyahu Previous peace plans have
said that once a final map all included far greater Is-
is agreed upon with the raeli concessions.
Americans, he will present A U.S. Embassy official, said
it to settler leaders individu- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, the "the work of the map-
ally, Revivi said. Sunday, June 7, 2020. Associated Press ping committee is ongo-
Revivi was one of a dozen ing." The official was not
settler leaders who attend- enclaves surrounded by open last week when Da- concerns, and were solidly authorized to speak to the
ed Sunday's meeting to Palestinian territory. They vid Elhayani, chairman of behind Netanyahu. media on the record and
support the annexation ef- also reject the U.S. offer to the Yesha Council, an um- Netanyahu and much of requested anonymity.
fort and offer a counterbal- recognize Palestinian state- brella settlers' group, told his nationalist base are ea- Netanyahu's office de-
ance to growing criticism of hood, albeit with far less an Israeli newspaper that ger to move ahead with clined to comment.
the plan among the prime land and far less authority the plan was inadequate annexation, especially The U.S. plan envisions leav-
minister's nationalist base. than the Palestinians seek. and proved Trump was "not with Trump facing shaky ing about one third of the
Annexation of West Bank "This doesn't answer all our a friend of Israel." re-election prospects in No- West Bank, which Israel
land has long been a dreams but you have to Netanyahu, fearful of up- vember. captured in 1967, under
dream of the Israeli settler keep it in perspective and setting his close ally in the The proposal also faces permanent Israeli control,
movement. see what the alternative is," White House, responded opposition in Israel, where while granting the Palestin-
Despite what is widely Revivi said. "We have an harshly, lauding Trump's many fear that annexation ians expanded autonomy
viewed as a pro-Israel plan, opportunity with this presi- friendship and accusing is a step that could lead to in the remainder of the ter-
some settlers have voiced dent, this prime minister the settler leadership of be- the creation of a single bi- ritory. The Palestinians, who
concern that Trump's ini- and this international cli- ing ungrateful. national state with the Pal- seek all of the West Bank
tiative does not go far mate and we have to seize Revivi, a senior figure in estinians. as part of an independent
enough. They note that it." Yesha, said the majority of Channel 13 TV reported state, have rejected the
many settlements would The schism in the settlement settlers supported the plan, Monday night that Ne- plan, saying it unfairly fa-
be turned into isolated leadership burst into the even if they harbored some tanyahu's main coalition vors Israel.q
With recovery of last case, New Zealand has eradicated virus

coronavirus — at least for time since late February occurs we have to make
now — after health offi- there have been no active sure — and we are — that
cials said Monday the last cases. Prime Minister Jacin- we are prepared."
known infected person da Ardern said she was More cases are likely to be
had recovered. confident New Zealand imported as people enter
The announcement was had halted the spread of the country. For now, the
greeted with joy around the virus but it still must be border remains shut to all
the country and means the prepared for more. but citizens and residents,
nation of 5 million people "We are confident we have with some limited excep-
will be among the first to eliminated transmission of tions. Everybody who does
welcome throngs of fans the virus in New Zealand enter has to go into quar-
back into sports stadiums, for now, but elimination is antine.
embrace crowded con- not a point in time, it is a "We can hold public events
certs and remove seating sustained effort," she said without limitations. Private
restrictions from flights. at a news conference. events such as weddings,
In this April 17, 2020, file photo, a man reacts as a medical It has been 17 days since "We almost certainly will functions and funerals
staffer tests shoppers who volunteered at a pop-up community the last new case was see cases here again, and without limitations," Ardern
COVID-19 testing station at a supermarket carpark in reported, during which I do want to say that again, said. "Retail is back with-
Christchurch, New Zealand. time an additional 40,000 we will almost certainly see out limitations. Hospitality
Associated Press
people have been tested, cases here again, and that is back without limitations.
By NICK PERRY land (AP) — New Zealand bringing the total number is not a sign that we have Public transport and travel
Associated Press appears to have com- tested to about 300,000. failed, it is a reality of this across the country is fully
WELLINGTON, New Zea- pletely eradicated the Monday marked the first virus. But if and when that opened." q