KUALA LUMPUR: The Palestine National Council (PNC) is turning to world leaders for help in derailing Israel’s plan to formalise control of Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank. The appeal by the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organisation came on the heels of the pledge by contesting parties in the Israel’s upcoming national election to annex Jordan Valley if they win the polls. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his rival, Benny Gantz, recently vowed to apply Israeli sovereignty over Jordan Valley, in what political observers described as a move to gain support from right-wing voters. Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s Blue and White party are competing against each other in the upcoming national elections on March 2. “This is a step to impose control and de facto annexation of the Palestinian Valleys.

Source: New Strait Times January 24, 2020 07:52 UTC