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Foreign ministers of 11 countries have asked the members of the European Union to help them find possible solutions to stop the West Bank annexation.

The top politicians have asked Joseph Borell, the EU foreign policy chief, for possible legal consequences for Israel if it moves forward with its plans to annex the disputed West Bank region.

"We concur that any&nbsp;annexation&nbsp;of Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 would be a violation of international law and imperil the foundations of the peace process," the ministers said in a statement after a joint video conference.

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had set July 1 as the date when it could begin to annex Jewish settlements in the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;as well as the strategic Jordan Valley.

The move was endorsed by a Middle East plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump in January.

Netanyahu's office made no announcement on July 1 as expected, but said talks were continuing with US officials and Israeli security chiefs.

The EU has in recent weeks mounted a diplomatic campaign against&nbsp;annexation, highlighted by a visit to Jerusalem by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to raise a concern about the prospective plans.&nbsp;

But the bloc cannot threaten Israel with formal sanctions without unanimous support among members.&nbsp;

After occupying the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;in the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel began establishing a network of settlements the following decade. Construction continues to this day.

Foreign ministers of 11 countries have asked the members of the European Union to help them find possible solutions to stop the West Bank annexation. The top politicians have asked Joseph Borell, the EU foreign policy chief, for possible legal consequences for Israel if it moves forward with its plans to annex the disputed West Bank region.

Foreign ministers of 11 countries have asked the members of the European Union to help them find possible solutions to stop the West Bank annexation. The top politicians have asked Joseph Borell, the EU foreign policy chief, for possible legal consequences for Israel if it moves forward with its plans to annex the disputed West Bank region. "We concur that any annexation of Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 would be a violation of international law and imperil the foundations of the peace process," the ministers said in a statement after a joint video conference. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had set July 1 as the date when it could begin to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank as well as the strategic Jordan Valley. The move was endorsed by a Middle East plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump in January. Netanyahu's office made no announcement on July 1 as expected, but said talks were continuing with US officials and Israeli security chiefs. The EU has in recent weeks mounted a diplomatic campaign against annexation, highlighted by a visit to Jerusalem by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to raise a concern about the prospective plans. But the bloc cannot threaten Israel with formal sanctions without unanimous support among members. After occupying the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel began establishing a network of settlements the following decade. Construction continues to this day.

European ministers seeking options to halt West Bank annexation

Israel's&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;minister, Israel Katz, has postponed a&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;Dubai&nbsp;this month due to&nbsp;security&nbsp;concerns,&nbsp;diplomats&nbsp;said on Sunday, linking the decision to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-to-visit-iran-saudi-arabia-to-discuss-developments-in-middle-east-273726">Iran-US&nbsp;tensions</a>.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isreal-shares-its-regional-connectivity-plan-with-india-267101">Israel Katz</a>, who doubles as intelligence&nbsp;minister, had been scheduled to attend mid-month meetings in the Gulf emirate ahead of its Expo 2020&nbsp;Dubai&nbsp;but "on the instruction of&nbsp;security&nbsp;officials" would defer the&nbsp;visit, an&nbsp;Israeli diplomat said, without giving a new date.

Another diplomat, who also requested anonymity, said&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;was taking precautions lest its arch-foe Iran try to target Katz as part of retaliation against its US&nbsp;ally. The diplomat did not cite evidence to indicate any specific threat.

Decades-old hostilities between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-and-iran-top-agenda-in-merkel-putin-meeting-273573">Tehran and Washington</a> have boiled&nbsp;over&nbsp;in recent weeks, with a US&nbsp;strike killing a senior <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-against-massacre-as-protests-erupt-over-downing-of-ukrainian-airplane-273670">Iranian commander</a> and Iran firing missiles at Iraqi airbases hosting US&nbsp;forces in response.

Iran and&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;have been fierce regional enemies since the 1979 Iranian revolution.&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;has in recent years built up ties with Sunni Gulf states that share its worries about Iran.

Though it does not enjoy formal relations with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranians-step-up-protests-after-tehran-govt-admits-ukrainian-plane-strike-273779">United Arab Emirates</a>,&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;will have a pavilion at Expo 2020&nbsp;Dubai, which opens in October - participation that Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-in-apparent-stumble-calls-israel-a-nuclear-power-272310">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> has described as part of "normalisation with the Arab states".

Israel's foreign minister, Israel Katz, has postponed a visit to Dubai this month due to security concerns, diplomats said on Sunday, linking the decision to Iran-US tensions.

Israel's foreign minister, Israel Katz, has postponed a visit to Dubai this month due to security concerns, diplomats said on Sunday, linking the decision to Iran-US tensions. Israel Katz, who doubles as intelligence minister, had been scheduled to attend mid-month meetings in the Gulf emirate ahead of its Expo 2020 Dubai but "on the instruction of security officials" would defer the visit, an Israeli diplomat said, without giving a new date. Another diplomat, who also requested anonymity, said Israel was taking precautions lest its arch-foe Iran try to target Katz as part of retaliation against its US ally. The diplomat did not cite evidence to indicate any specific threat. Decades-old hostilities between Tehran and Washington have boiled over in recent weeks, with a US strike killing a senior Iranian commander and Iran firing missiles at Iraqi airbases hosting US forces in response. Iran and Israel have been fierce regional enemies since the 1979 Iranian revolution. Israel has in recent years built up ties with Sunni Gulf states that share its worries about Iran. Though it does not enjoy formal relations with the United Arab Emirates, Israel will have a pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, which opens in October - participation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described as part of "normalisation with the Arab states".

Israel: Foreign Minister Israel Katz postpones Dubai visit over 'security' reasons

As part of swap deal brokered by Russia, Israel on Friday announced the release of&nbsp;two prisoners including one convicted of spying.

According to a report by news agency AFP, the prisoners, Sidqi al-Maqt,&nbsp;Amal Abu Saleh,&nbsp;are residents of&nbsp;annexed Golan Heights in Israel.

They were released in a "gesture of goodwill" after the repatriation to Israel last year of the remains of Zachary Baumel, an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 war in Lebanon, the prisons' authority said.

The spying convict name Maqt was jailed in 2015 for 11 years for spying, treason, contact with a foreign agent and transfer of information to the Syrian government while Amal Abu Saleh was jailed for the murder of a Syrian who crossed the Israeli border.&nbsp;

Saleh was due to remain behind bars until 2023.

Israeli authorities had promised the release of two Syrian prisoners after the repatriation of the remains.

According to Israeli media, the release of Maqt and Abu Saleh was delayed because the two men wanted to return to the town of Majdal Shams in the annexed Golan Heights, rather than travel to Syrian-held territory.

Maqt told Syrian state news agency SANA his release was "without conditions and that is a victory of the will of the Syrians over the will of the occupier".

SANA said Maqt had been released in August 2012 after 27 years in Israeli detention.

"He was re-arrested on February 25, 2015... after he documented cooperation between the Israeli occupying army and the terrorists of Al-Nusra Front," it said, referring to Syria's then Al-Qaeda affiliate.

After midnight, SANA said Abu Saleh has arrived at his birthplace of Majdal Shams.

Some 23,000 Druze still live in the part of the Golan Heights Israel seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by most of the international community.&nbsp;

The majority still consider themselves Syrian.

(With inputs from AFP)

As part of swap deal brokered by Russia, Israel on Friday announced the release of two prisoners including one convicted of spying. According to a report by news agency AFP, the prisoners, Sidqi al-Maqt, Amal Abu Saleh, are residents of annexed Golan Heights in Israel.

As part of swap deal brokered by Russia, Israel on Friday announced the release of two prisoners including one convicted of spying. According to a report by news agency AFP, the prisoners, Sidqi al-Maqt, Amal Abu Saleh, are residents of annexed Golan Heights in Israel. They were released in a "gesture of goodwill" after the repatriation to Israel last year of the remains of Zachary Baumel, an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 war in Lebanon, the prisons' authority said. The spying convict name Maqt was jailed in 2015 for 11 years for spying, treason, contact with a foreign agent and transfer of information to the Syrian government while Amal Abu Saleh was jailed for the murder of a Syrian who crossed the Israeli border. Saleh was due to remain behind bars until 2023. Israeli authorities had promised the release of two Syrian prisoners after the repatriation of the remains. According to Israeli media, the release of Maqt and Abu Saleh was delayed because the two men wanted to return to the town of Majdal Shams in the annexed Golan Heights, rather than travel to Syrian-held territory. Maqt told Syrian state news agency SANA his release was "without conditions and that is a victory of the will of the Syrians over the will of the occupier". SANA said Maqt had been released in August 2012 after 27 years in Israeli detention. "He was re-arrested on February 25, 2015... after he documented cooperation between the Israeli occupying army and the terrorists of Al-Nusra Front," it said, referring to Syria's then Al-Qaeda affiliate. After midnight, SANA said Abu Saleh has arrived at his birthplace of Majdal Shams. Some 23,000 Druze still live in the part of the Golan Heights Israel seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by most of the international community. The majority still consider themselves Syrian. (With inputs from AFP)

Israel releases spying convict as part of prisoners swap deal with Syria