00:00Is it de facto annexation? That's the accusation leveled against Israel as it moves to entrench
00:06its control over the occupied West Bank. A United Nations spokesperson said that measures
00:12approved by Israel's cabinet on Sunday were illegal under international law.
00:17Such actions, including Israel's continuing presence in the occupied Palestinian territory,
00:22are not only destabilizing but, as recalled by the International Court of Justice, unlawful.
00:28The Secretary-General calls on Israel to reverse these measures and all parties to preserve the only
00:35path to lasting peace, which is a negotiated settlement for a two-state solution.
00:41Even the U.S., traditionally a loyal ally of Israel, has come out against the plans,
00:46which aim to increase Israel's sovereignty over the territory.
00:50A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration's goal to achieve
00:56peace in the region.
00:58The U.K. and the European Union also added their voices to the criticism.
01:03This move is another step in the wrong direction, while the whole international community is making
01:10an effort to implement phase two of the comprehensive plan for Gaza.
01:15Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, released a joint condemnation
01:22of the move on Monday.
01:23The measures reverse a decades-old ban on the direct sale of land in the West Bank to Jews.
01:29For its part, Israel's foreign ministry said the change is necessary to correct what it called
01:34a racist distortion about who could purchase land in the territory, while Israel's far-right
01:40minister of finance went further, saying their aim is to bury the idea of a Palestinian state.
01:46The U.K. and the security of the Chinese leader also Maria, the United States and the United States,
01:49the U.K. and the U.S.
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