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A28 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 4 July 2020
Former world leaders warn against Israel annexation plan

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A increase the risks of future
group of former world lead- violence in one of the most
ers urged European leaders combustible areas in the
on Friday to keep pressuring world."
Israel against annexation The Elders called on EU
of parts of the West Bank, leaders to consider sus-
warning against compla- pending the 27-nation's As-
cency after Israel made no sociation Agreement with
move to take over the terri- Israel if annexation goes
tory on July 1. ahead in any form. They
The Elders, founded by Nel- also recalled the United
son Mandela in 2007, said Kingdom's "historical and
in letters to the leaders of abiding responsibility" as
France, Germany, Britain the colonial power in pre-
and the European Union 1948 Palestine.
that they should insist to Is- The Elders' appeal followed
rael that annexation would an appeal from British
have negative political and Prime Minister Boris Johnson
economic consequences to Israel to call off the an-
for bilateral and regional nexation plan.
relations. In a front-page article
Israeli Prime Minister Ben- Wednesday in Yediot Ah-
jamin Netanyahu had ronot, one of Israel's larg-
aimed to start the process est newspapers, Johnson
by Wednesday, saying he Palestinian demonstrators hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest Israel's plan to annex parts wrote that as a "passionate
Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank and Trump's mideast initiative, in the West Bank vil-
wanted to begin annex- lage of Kufr Qaddumm near Nablus, Friday, July 3, 2020. defender of Israel," he was
ing West Bank territory in Associated Press fearful that annexation will
line with President Donald fail in the country's objec-
Trump's Mideast plan. tured from Jordan in 1967 omy in carved-up pockets of establishing a viable tive of securing its borders,
But Israeli Cabinet minister — and Gaza, with agreed of the remaining land. The independent Palestinian "and will be contrary to Is-
Ofir Akunis said the annexa- land swaps. The Palestin- Palestinians have vehe- state alongside Israel. rael's own long-term inter-
tion process had been de- ians want East Jerusalem mently rejected the plan as The Elders — led by former ests."
layed, telling Israel's Army as the capital of their state pro-Israeli. Irish President Mary Robin- "I profoundly hope that
Radio station on Wednes- but the future of Jerusalem The delay cast further un- son with Mandela's widow annexation does not go
day that officials were still is considered a final sta- certainty over whether Is- Graca Machel and former ahead," he said. "If it does,
working out the final details tus issue to be decided in rael will ultimately follow U.N. Secretary-General the UK will not recognize
with their American coun- Israeli-Palestinian negotia- through on the explosive Ban Ki-moon as co-chairs any changes to the 1967
terparts. He said he expect- tions. annexation initiative, which — said annexation "is fun- lines, except those agreed
ed the annexation to take The Trump administration's has also drawn fierce inter- damentally contrary to the between both parties."
place later in July. peace plan, unveiled in national condemnations long-term interests of both In addition to opposing
The two-state solution, January, envisions bringing from some of Israel's closest the Israeli and the Palestin- annexation, the Elders re-
backed by the U.N. Secu- some 30% of the West Bank allies. ian peoples." iterated their support for
rity Council and the vast under permanent Israeli The United Nations, the EU They said annexation "will Israeli and Palestinian hu-
majority of the internation- control and gave a green and key Arab countries not dampen future Pales- man rights defenders and
al community, envisions light for Israel to annex that have all said annexation tinian demands for rights civil society activists, say-
an independent Palestin- territory. The plan would es- would violate international and self-determination, ing their "voices need to be
ian state in the entire West tablish a disjointed Palestin- law and undermine the al- but destroying hopes in a protected and amplified at
Bank — territory Israel cap- ian state with limited auton- ready diminished prospects two-state compromise will this challenging time."q

Mexican state eyes closing U.S. border as Arizona cases rise

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's coronavi- be suspended.
rus outbreak rose by a record 6,741 con- The United States and Mexico previ-
firmed cases and 679 deaths Thursday, ously agreed to limiting non-essential
putting the country's toll of 29,189 COV- border crossings into the U.S. during the
ID-19 deaths higher than Spain's, though pandemic, but Mexico has not moved
the milestone was overshadowed by to block entry into its territory and it
the resurgence in the United States. seemed unlikely the Foreign Relations
Reacting to a spike in virus cases re- Department would grant Clausen's re-
ported in Arizona, the top health official quest. The agency did announce it
in the neighboring Mexican state of So- would screen incoming visitors from the
nora is asking Mexico's federal govern- United States over the July 4th week-
ment to temporarily close the border to end, checking temperatures and ask-
non-essential visits from the U.S. ing about symptoms as a preventative
"No more crossings from the United measure.
States into Mexico for visitors who do not Several towns in Sonora are popular with
A worker waters grass and plants atop recent graves in a sec- have essential activities," Sonora state U.S. visitors because they offer lower-
tion of the Municipal Cemetery of Valle de Chalco opened two Health Secretary Enrique Clausen said cost health, vision and dental services.
months ago to accommodate the surge in deaths amid the on- Wednesday. "They should only be al- Puerto Peñasco, a resort also known as
going coronavirus pandemic, on the outskirts of Mexico City, lowed for work or business." He said he Rocky Point, is also popular with visitors
Thursday, July 2, 2020.
Associated Press was asking only for entry into Sonora to from Arizona. q