The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev expressing opposition to any move by the Israeli government to annex West Bank territory after July 1.

The letters follow the recent warning from the leaders of churches in the Holy Land that Israel’s proposed annexation of West Bank territory would “bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process.”

Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols made clear that both churches “unambiguously support the fundamental right of Israel’s citizens to live in peace and safety but these prospects can only be secured through negotiation rather than annexation.”

They said it is essential that both Israelis and Palestinians may live without violence or the threat of violence from each other or other armed groups.