Israeli design.

ISRAEL has embarked on a dangerous mission which if not checkmated by the international community could forever alter the map of the Middle East and plunge the region into a more sinister and deadly conflict.

The Jewish state under the power-sharing deal that led to the formation of Israel's new unity government consisting of parties led by Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Benny Gantz, have agreed to push ahead with plans to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in occupied east Jerusalem and to appropriate Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank.

Decades ago, Israel annexed Golan Heights seized from Syria during 1967 war. It has been further emboldened to extend its sovereignty over the other occupied territories thus rendering a major blow to the two-state solution favoured by the UN and the rest of the world.

The power-sharing deal between Netanyahu and Gantz will come into effective from July 1 with the former serving as the prime minister for the first 18 months before his rival takes over for the remaining period.

It is good to note that our government has rightly expressed its concern over the latest moves by Israel to take control of parts of occupied West Bank. But Islamabad needs to raise its voice more forcefully at the international forums.

The...