Israeli Officials Warn Annexation May Lead Jordan to Take Drastic Steps

Netanyahu insists he has 'full right' to annex Jordan Valley

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is keen to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, on the grounds that the US is going to let him do so. Israeli officials, particularly military officials, are warning against one of the primary targets, the Jordan Valley.

The Jordan Valley, which connects the West Bank to Jordan, is something the Israeli right has long wanted to annex, as it would mean the rest of the Palestinian West Bank would never have a border with any nation other than Israel.

Military officials are warning that the big problem would be with Jordan itself, and that this move would further damage Israel-Jordan ties, and might force the Jordanian government to take drastic steps.

Netanyahu doesn’t appear to be taking these warnings seriously, however, saying that he has the “full right” to annex the Jordan Valley at any time he chooses. The possibility was apparently broached with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and while the US has not commented on it, all indications are that they are fine with Israeli annexations in general.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.