Jordan Valley

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara outside the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the West Bank town of Hebron, on September 4, 2019. (EMIL SALMAN / Haaretz POOL / AFP)

Netanyahu says he is planning on annexing parts of Hebron

PM says the small community located in the heart of the Palestinian city will become an official part of the Jewish state

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, poses with King Abdullah II of Jordan before a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, March 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

September 17, 2019, 8:26 am

France, Jordan leaders ‘share concern’ over Netanyahu annexation plan

In phone call, Macron and Abdullah reaffirm support for two-state solution and agree to stay in contact to ‘avoid a dangerous rise in tension’

By TOI staff and AP

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh greeting residents of Fasayil, a Palestinian village in the Jordan Valley, on September 16, 2019. (Wafa)

September 16, 2019, 7:42 pm

PA cabinet convenes in Jordan Valley in protest of Netanyahu’s annexation vow

Meeting chaired by Palestinian PM comes a day after Israel held a government gathering nearby and voted to legalize an outpost

By Adam Rasgon

September 16, 2019, 2:50 pm

Netanyahu says he is planning on annexing parts of Hebron

PM says the small community located in the heart of the Palestinian city will become an official part of the Jewish state

By TOI staff and AP

A convey drives off after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held the weekly cabinet meeting in the Jordan Valley Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. (Amir Cohen/Pool via AP)

September 16, 2019, 10:55 am

After Israeli meet, PA to also hold cabinet summit in Jordan Valley

Palestinian ministers to convene in Fasayil, near settlement where Israeli ministers met Sunday after Netanyahu’s annexation promise

By TOI staff and Agencies

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting in the Jordan Valley on September 15, 2019. Photo by Marc Israel Sellem/POOL

September 16, 2019, 3:02 am

Netanyahu: After Jordan Valley and settlements, I’ll annex other ‘vital areas’

Prime minister says moves to be done in coordination with President Trump and argues, in election pitch, that he is only one capable of negotiating with US leader

By TOI staff

(From L-R) Jordan Valley Regional Council chairman David Elhayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cabinet secretary Tzachi Braverman applaud after the government authorized the legalization of the Mevo'ot Yericho outpost at the weekly cabinet meeting at the Jordan Valley Regional Council, September 15, 2019 (Haim Tzach/GPO)

September 15, 2019, 4:47 pm

Meeting in Jordan Valley, cabinet votes to start legalizing wildcat outpost

Presented with new information underlying urgency of step for Mevo’ot Yeriho, attorney general withdraws his opposition; final move will only be green-lighted by next government

By Jacob Magid

A Bedouin shepherd walks with his herd of sheep in the Jordan Valley in the West Bank on September 11, 2019 (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

September 15, 2019, 2:05 pm

Annexing the Jordan Valley threatens regional security

The strip along the Jordan River’s west bank has little military value, but it does offer opportunities to cooperate toward peace (Op-Ed)

By Gidon Bromberg and Yana Abu Taleb

Yamina's Naftali Bennett speaking at the Srugim conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 15, 2019, 11:12 am

Settlement ‘islands’: Bennett posts map of Trump’s alleged plan for West Bank

Ostensible proposal would see Israel controlling Jerusalem, isolated enclaves and the Jordan Valley; deliver majority of territory to Palestinians

By TOI staff and Raphael Ahren

Former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk speaks at the State Department as Secretary of State John Kerry announces that Indyk will shepherd the Israeli Palestinian peace talks beginning in Washington, July 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

September 14, 2019, 5:51 pm

Obama envoy says Netanyahu ‘encouraged’ plan that included settler withdrawal

Martin Indyk, former US ambassador to Israel, disputes PM’s claim he shot down rival Gantz’s efforts on proposal to evacuate Jordan Valley

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech in Ramat Gan on September 10, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

September 13, 2019, 9:45 am

Netanyahu: War in Gaza could break out ‘before the elections’

PM, who was ridiculed for being rushed off-stage during rocket attack from enclave, takes tough stance on Hamas ahead of national vote

By TOI staff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in Ramat Gan on September 10, 2019. (Menahem KAHANA / AFP)

September 13, 2019, 4:48 am

European powers condemn Netanyahu vow to annex Jordan Valley

France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom issue joint statement warning move would be ‘a serious breach of international law’

By TOI staff

Saudi King Salman chairs an emergency summit of Gulf Arab leaders in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

September 12, 2019, 7:41 pm

In call with Abbas, Saudi king condemns Netanyahu annexation pledge

King Salman slams ‘very dangerous escalation against the Palestinian people’; Jordan urges world to ‘act effectively and quickly’ to prevent move

By TOI staff and AFP

The Jordan Valley outpost of Mevo'ot Yeriho in 2017. (Screen capture/YouTube)

September 12, 2019, 2:52 pm

Attorney general warns caretaker cabinet not to legalize outpost before election

As ministers set to vote to regulate Mevo’ot Yeriho, Mandelblit and Defense Ministry legal adviser say they haven’t been presented with any information justifying a hasty move

By Jacob Magid

September 12, 2019, 12:13 pm

Netanyahu: War in Gaza to topple Hamas likely inevitable

Days after being rushed off stage due to rockets from enclave, premier says operation to be launched ‘at the right time’; admits he can’t prevent Trump-Rouhani meet

By Michael Bachner

Illustrative: Israelis take part in an annual 8-km march in the Jordan Valley. February 21, 2014. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

September 12, 2019, 8:04 am

Jordan Valley settlers hail Netanyahu annexation pledge

‘Security and settlements go together,’ says local settler leader, adding that PM’s promise was ‘not a total surprise’

By AFP and TOI staff