US peace plan turned two-state solution to two-state illusion: Expert

The so-called Middle East peace plan, proposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump, gave the Israeli regime the green light to annex major parts of the occupied West Bank, a political expert says, adding that the move resulted in the failure of the two-state solution, turning it into a “two-state illusion.”

Sa’d Nimr, professor of political science at Birzeit University from Ramallah, made the remarks during a Friday edition of Press TV’s The Debate program, while commenting on the Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands and what solutions the Palestinians have to stop the Israeli land grab.

Trump infuriated Palestinians in January, when he unveiled his much-delayed “deal of the century” during an event at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump outlines contentious Palestine scheme, says Quds will be Israel’s ‘undivided capital’

Trump repeats his hugely-controversial endorsement of occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital” as he outlines his administration’s self-styled Mideast plan.

Palestinian groups have unanimously rejected Trump’s one-sided plan, which largely meets Israel’s demands in the decades-old conflict with the Palestinians while envisioning a Palestinian state with limited control over its own security and borders.

The so-called “peace” plan enshrines Jerusalem al-Quds as “Israel’s undivided capital” and allows the regime to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The plan also denies the right of return for Palestinian refugees to their homeland, among other controversial terms.

Palestinians have warned that they will prosecute Israel at international courts if it goes on with the plan, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas saying the Palestinian Authority’s agreements with Israel and the United States will be “completely cancelled” if Israel annexes the occupied West Bank.

‘Palestine to nullify Israel agreements if West Bank annexed’

The Palestinian president says agreements with Israel and the US will be nullified if West Bank lands are annexed by Israel.

“The two-state solution became today a two-state illusion. We cannot even believe that there will be a state in Palestine in any way not in this kind of state which is a racist and apartheid regime called Israel; so the whole thing is totally different now from 10 years ago when people still had some hope that Israel might give us anything. No one in Israel, leader or not, is going to give the Palestinians Jerusalem as its capital. No Israeli leader is going to evacuate 800,000 settlers from the West Bank to give us a state. No Israeli leader is going to allow one single refugee to come back,” Nimr told Press TV on Friday.

“The Americans are 100 percent backing the Israelis and the Israelis are using this period,” he said, adding, “The Americans absolutely are siding by the Israelis and the international community is so shy in their statements regarding what’s going on. They are practically doing nothing in effect to stop these kinds of decisions.” 

Meanwhile, the United Nations has issued a warning against the Israeli regime’s intention to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, saying such a move constitutes a serious violation of international law and would be a "devastating blow" to the so-called two-state solution.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said Thursday the annexation would also "deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace."

UN warns Israel against ‘devastating’ West Bank annexation plans

The UN has warned Israel not to annex parts of the West Bank, saying such a move would be a "devastating blow" to the two-state solution.

Jonathan Fryer, author and lecturer from London, was the other panelist invited to The Debate program, who confirmed that the US Embassy relocation and the Golan Heights recognition by the US among other issues served as a green light to Israel to float international law.

“The Trump administration is even more pro-Israel than its predecessors,” Fryer said. “The two-state solution is as a practical reality almost dead but it is important to underline the fact that many other Western governments, including the British government, do still support the two-state solution and indeed the British government and the EU and several individual member states have made statements.”

Fryer went on to say that, “Washington does not use the word occupation usually when talking about the settlements. These are not settlers, these are colonizers and it should be made very clear through the media and the international forums that this is an occupation, a brutal occupation, and people have got to stand up and protest about it.”

Israel has become more brazen in its efforts to trample upon Palestinians’ rights since the 2016 election of Trump, who has unprecedentedly intensified Washington’s support for the regime.

Trump deal: A prize for Israel at the expense of Palestine

Palestinian leaders voice their strong opposition to the so-called ‘peace’ plan which Trump is preparing to unveil, emphasizing the need for popular resistance against the scheme.

Trump has recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital,” relocating the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy occupied city, and announcing a scheme that allows the regime to annex the land on which it has been building the illegal settlements.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank. All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

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