1、ANNEXING THE WEST BANKWOULD COMPROMISE ISRAELSSECURITY AND CORE VALUESGILEAD SHER AND TAMI YAKIRAJUNE 18,2020COMMENTARYIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government is about to make a hasty unilateral annexation of at least partsof the West Bank and the Jordan Valley,under the blessing of U.
2、S.President Donald Trump.Details on the annexationsscope,format,methodology,timeline,or rationale have not yet been disclosed to Israels security cabinet.The annexation process led by Netanyahu is of negative character,devoid of any strategic consideration(except formessianic right-wing platforms),d
3、etrimental to the countrys security,disruptive to its Jewish-democratic nature,andbound to drag Israel into years of violence at great cost.In contrast the government of Ehud Barak(in which one of us served as chief of staff and policy coordinator)in its 2000unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon and Ariel Sharons government in its 2005 unilateral Gaza Strip disengagement,have both led to long-term favorable strategic changes for Israel.Neither were free of mistakes,but there is no doubtthat in doing so they have also saved the lives of Israeli soldiers and civilians.
