E ANNEX H A T T I P O O N T S INTERNATIONALJuly 2020 BULLETIN INTERNATIONAL REACTION TO ISRAELI ANNEXATION PLANS Sinn Féin President, Mary Lou McDonald TD, calls on Irish Government to oppose Israeli annexation and recognise the State of Palestine In a letter addressed to the Taoiseach, ic and moral obligation to act. Failure to Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin President, Mary do so is a perverse incentive for Israeli Lou McDonald TD, has called on the Irish authorities to continue flouting inter- Government to condemn Israeli annexation national law and to consistently breach plans and recognise the State of Palestine. UN resolutions. The absence of effective She said: international sanctions has emboldened “The Programme for Government aggressive and oppressive actions by the commits to play a strong role in promot- Israeli government against the Palestinian ing peace and international partnership Authority, and its citizens across the West through the United Nations and other international opposition to these plans, bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. international organisations, and to protect including from the United Nations and “I therefore call on the government human rights in every state. European Union. to recognise the State of Palestine, to “In that context I urge you to ensure “I am grievously concerned that these publicly condemn Israeli annexation plans Ireland uses its position on the UN Security plans could indefinitely hold back any on behalf of the Irish people, and also use Council to challenge in the strongest terms prospect of a long term democratic and its influence within both the UN Security the proposed annexation of Palestinian peaceful solution to the plight of the Pal- Council, and the European Commission, lands by Israel which has been roundly estinian people, or worse still be perma- to progress European Union words of condemned as a flagrant violation of inter- nently lost. opposition against the planned annexation national law. “Sinn Féin believes that Ireland and the of the West Bank into a robust diplomatic “Israel’s intent is in defiance of strong international community has a diplomat- intervention.” Palestinian Government report on serious threats and consequences facing State of Palestine as a result of Israeli annexation In a report presented to the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee of the Not to recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, ‘Office Of The United Nations Special Coordinator For The Middle including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those East Peace Process’ the Palestinian Government outlined that agreed by the parties through negotiations, including annexation will mean: by ensuring that agreements with Israel do not imply The removal of the asset and resource rich Jordan Valley recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Palestinian from the State of Palestine; and Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; The isolation and suffocation of East Jerusalem, To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the the Palestinian capital; territory of the State of Israel and the territories occu- The denial of Palestinian control over use of land and natu- pied since 1967; ral resources; Not to render aid or assistance to illegal colonial activ- The prevention of efficient and free movement of people and ities, including not to provide Israel with any assistance goods; to be used in connection with colonies in the occupied An increase of violations of Palestinian rights; territories, in line with Security Council resolution 465 The end of the two-state solution. (1980); The current Israeli government was formed based on a po- To respect and ensure respect for international law, litical agenda that sets annexation of Palestinian territory as a adopting measures of accountability, including sanc- strategic priority, despite the widespread international condem- tions; nation. To exert all efforts to end the Israeli occupation of all The State of Palestine calls on the international community to territories occupied in 1967 and to achieve, without use all measures necessary to prevent annexation, including: delay, a just, comprehensive and lasting peace on the To recognize the State of Palestine on the pre-1967 bor- basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the ders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, if they have not Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of yet done so; land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative. @SFIntDept www.sinnfein.ie @sinnfeininternational ANNEX E A H T T I P O O N T S SPECIAL 2 BULLETIN Former World leaders warn against Israeli annexation plans The ‘Elders’ group, founded in 2007 by Israeli annexation ‘is fundamentally con- sociation Agreement with Israel if annex- Nelson Mandela, and currently led by for- trary to the long-term interests of both the ation goes ahead in any form. They also mer Irish President, Mary Robinson, with Israeli and the Palestinian peoples.’ recalled the United Kingdom’s ‘historical Nelson Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel, They said annexation ‘will not dampen and abiding responsibility’ as the colonial and former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki- future Palestinian demands for rights and power in pre-1948 Palestine. Moon, as co-chairs — said in letters to the self-determination, but destroying hopes They urged European states to keep leaders of France, Germany, Britain and the in a two-state compromise will increase pressuring Israel against annexation European Union that they should insist to the risks of future violence in one of the of parts of the West Bank, and warned Israel that annexation would have negative most combustible areas in the world.’ against complacency after the plans to political and economic consequences for The Elders called on EU leaders to con- take over the territory on July 1 were bilateral and regional relations and that sider suspending the 27-member bloc’s As- delayed. Vatican warns against West Bank annexation The Vatican has warned the United States and Israel that plans to an- “express concern of the Holy See regarding possible unilateral nex parts of the West Bank risk efforts to bring peace between actions that may further jeopardise the search for peace be- Israelis and Palestinians. tween Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the delicate situation On 30 June Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary in the Middle East.” of State, summoned US ambassador to the Vatican, Callista Gin- It added: “the Holy See reiterates that the State of Israel and grigh, and Israel’s ambassador, Oren David, to “express concern” the State of Palestine have the right to exist and to live in peace about any “unilateral actions”. and security, within internationally recognised borders.” In a statement, the Vatican said Cardinal Parolin wanted to Amnesty International says Israel must abandon Annexation plans Amnesty International has said grant violation of international Saleh Higazi, Amnesty In- national community must that the Israeli authorities law. They believe that such a ternational’s Middle East and enforce international law and must immediately abandon step by Israel would violate North Africa Deputy Director, restate that ‘annexation’ of plans to further ‘annex’ ter- the UN charter, the norms of said: any part of the occupied West ritory in the occupied Pales- international law and obli- “International law is crystal Bank is null and void. They tinian West Bank warning the gations under international clear on this matter - annex- must also work to immedi- move represents the ‘law of humanitarian law. ation is unlawful. ately stop the construction the jungle’. They say that under domes- “Israel’s continued pursuit or expansion of illegal Israeli Amnesty is calling on the tic Israeli law, moves towards of this policy further illus- settlements and related international community to further annexation of Pales- trates its cynical disregard infrastructure in the Occupied take firm action against the tinian territory would mean for international law. Such Palestinian Territories as a annexation proposal. Am- a continuation of Israeli set- policies do not change the first step towards removing nesty is calling on the British tlement expansion and would legal status of the territory Israeli civilians living in such Government to clarify the further entrench policies of in- under international law and settlements. consequences of an Israeli stitutionalised discrimination its inhabitants as occupied nor “Settlements are created annexation, urging the British and mass human rights viola- remove Israel’s responsibili- with the sole purpose of per- to ban the trade in goods from tions faced by Palestinians in ties as the occupying power manently establishing Jewish Israel’s illegal settlements ‘as the occupied territories. - rather it points to the ‘law Israelis on occupied land; this a minimum’. Recently, dozens of UN of the jungle’ which should is a war crime under interna- Amnesty said that annex- experts voiced concerns that not have a place in our world tional law and ‘annexation’ ation is the claim to acquire annexation would create a today. has no bearing on this legal territory by force and is a fla- “21st-century apartheid”. “Members of the inter- determination.” @SFIntDept www.sinnfein.ie @sinnfeininternational ANNEX E A H T T I P O O N T S SPECIAL 3 BULLETIN 120 French Spanish politicians call on their government Parliamentarians to oppose Israeli annexation plan: oppose Israel annexation In a letter addressed to Spain’s Foreign Minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya,