Israeli PM says map for West Bank annexation 'isn't ready'

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the map for annexing portions of the West Bank "isn't ready," suggesting that the controversial plan might be postponed.

Netanyahu told a weekly meeting of his right-wing Likud party that he wishes to bring his plan for annexing the Jordan Valley, a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, for a government vote "soon." However, he added, "the map isn't ready yet."

Netanyahu said the position of the Blue and White party, his centrist ally to the new power-sharing coalition, is not clear. "We don't know what about Blue and White, that's a good question," he said.

"We are in talks with the Americans, we want their agreement for the entire matter," he said.

During his election campaign in March, Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, said he will support annexing parts of the West Bank only if the move will be acceptable by the international community.

The remarks cast doubt on Netanyahu's announced date for moving forward with the annexation, which was originally set by him to July 1.

The Palestinians, as well as most of the Arab world and Israel's European allies, object to the annexation plan and condemn it as a violation of international law.

Israel seized the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 war and kept controlling it ever since despite international criticism.