“Jerusalem is not for sale”: EU MP’s oppose the recently sanctioned israeli annexation plans
Policy analysis by Farah Termos, Staff Writer
July 23rd, 2020
The israeli annexation of the West Bank: a quick summary
Ever since 1967, the annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory has been under talks amongst israeli officials. The West Bank, home to almost 3 million Palestinian Arabs and over 400,000 israeli Jews, has both appointed limited “self-rule”, israeli military rule and illegal settlements of which have been emphasized to be an illicit disregard to international law. In January, the Trump administration followed up with an israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan; proposed as a strategy for israeli occupation of the west bank to go forth.
West Bank annexation by israel, Source: B'Tselem - BBC
(Note: the Phoenix Daily does not acknowledge israel as an entity as recognizes it as the occupational state of israel, the figure is not a representation of the opinion nor views of the Phoenix Daily)
On the 1st of May 2020, following israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s reappointment as head of government, the date setting of 1st of July was that which appointed the annexation plans to start there-on. This implied that 30% of the West Bank was earmarked and to be indicted under the laws of israel. That means that this this figure – and whatever constitutes it – would be permanently under israel’s military rule.
The European Union’s stance
In a move opposed by Jordan (one of a few arab countries with friendly and official ties with israel), along with discouragement from israel’s long-time trade partner, the European Union, israel saw itself in a worldwide deterrence from its economic allies. By June 24th, almost 1,080 European members of parliament actively co-signed an opposition letter towards israels annexation plans, which was sent to foreign ministries across the European Continent. This letter, originally organized by Avraham Burg (former israeli speaker of parliament) , Naomi Chazan (israeli activist and politican), Michael Benyair (former attorney general of israel) and former israeli MK Zahava Galon, shared trifling concerns about the wests administrative support for annexation, sighting that this move “gives green light to israel to unilaterally annex significant parts of the west bank” – emphasizing on the need for a peaceful preservation of the diplomatic settling of israeli-Palestinian disputes.
Official letter signed by over 1080 EU officials opposing annexation. Source: @zehavagalon, Twitter
The text also exemplified what this annexation, in an already politically and economically unstable 2020, would mean to other countries: encouraging them to disregard and obliterate international law and go against globally placed human rights regulations. Signatories of the letter ranged from Irish, Luxembourgish and German – to include over 1,000 EU officials from over 24 European countries in the process. Amongst the signatories included Netherlands Senator Joris Backer, UK former conservative and labour party leaders (+ over 30 additional members from these parties) Lord Howard and Lord Kinnock, along with Irish politician John Brady. British and French co-signers ranged from former EU counter-terrorism ministers and former defence secretaries to vice presidents of the European parliament (Fabio Massimo Castaldo). Not only did letters be drafted, but so did 11 foreign ministries publicly address the EU in an effort to proceed with the rejection of annexation. In addition to that, UK PM Boris Johnson expressed his concern over the matter.
Moreover, this logical EU opposition emphasizes the dire effects of annexation: being that destabilization, violence and an added economic burden to israeli’s horrific political and financially destabilizing year, would de-home thousands of Palestinians and wipe out any chance for Palestinian sovereignty (peace amongst israel and Palestine) in the few left strips of the West Bank. It would also threaten israel’s long-term goals, briefing on the “state’s” continuous agenda of obliterating international law: and encouraging other countries to do so.
Reference
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52756427
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1705141/middle-east