[Global Network Report] Foreign media such as the US "Axios" news network and the British Reuters reported on August 31 that according to three Israeli, American and European officials with direct knowledge of the situation, the Israeli government is seriously considering annexing the occupied Jordan River. West Bank area, in "retaliation" for the announcement by several Western countries that they will recognize the Palestinian state.

¡°Axios¡± said Israel¡¯s next move will depend on U.S. President Trump¡¯s stance, who has blocked Israeli annexation operations twice during his first term. The report also said that there were Israeli officials who said the Trump administration would not oppose the annexation because they felt ¡°very angry¡± at countries that planned to recognize the Palestinian State. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Hackabi told the media that the U.S. government had not yet expressed a stance.

Reuters, which also reported on the matter, said that it is not clear when such (annexation) measures will be implemented, but Israel's potential annexation may face international condemnation.

The United Nations General Assembly will discuss the ¡°two-state plan¡± on the Palestinian issue in September, including a number of countries including France, Britain, Australia and others announcing that they are preparing to recognize the Palestinian state during this period. On August 29 local time, the U.S. State Department announced that Palestinian President Abbas and other Palestinian officials, the chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, who planned to visit the United Nations General Assembly in September, refused to issue visas or cancelled their visas. The United States refused to issue visas to Abbas was condemned by many countries. Irish Foreign Minister Harris said the EU should protest the U.S. ¡°with the strongest phrase.¡± Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez issued a statement stating that the U.S. government¡¯s conduct was ¡°unfair¡± and ¡°