The Palestinian Foundation for Human Rights (WITNESS) is
following with great concern the serious developments in terms of the Israeli
Knesset's approval in a preliminary reading, by 25 votes in favor and 24 against,
on a bill aimed at imposing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. It
considers this step to represent an unprecedented escalation in the policy of
gradual annexation, and a practical embodiment of the occupation's efforts to
legitimize the reality of settlements and occupation, in flagrant violation of
the rules of international humanitarian law and the relevant United Nations
resolutions.
This vote, although at an initial stage, reflects a formal
trend towards the transformation of Israeli military control into full civilian
sovereignty over the occupied territories. What is happening is part of a
systematic colonial settlement project aimed at eliminating the possibility of
an independent Palestinian state and establishing full Israeli control over
resources, land and population. It also poses a threat to regional stability
and foreshadows further ethnic cleansing. If annexation is actually
implemented, the existing security coordination will collapse completely, and
the Palestinian Authority will effectively lose its administrative and security
powers in the West Bank, transferring direct control to what is known as the
"Civil Administration," which means the return of the system of
direct military rule over more than three million Palestinians and depriving
them of the most basic civil rights under the full tutelage of the occupation.
While official US statements have been issued downplaying
the Israeli move as a "political ploy," Shahid asserts that sufficing
with verbal condemnation without practical measures gives the occupation
implicit cover to continue its policies, and undermines the credibility of the
international order based on respect for international law and resolutions of
international legitimacy. The role of the United States of America, as Israel's
biggest supporter, must be clear and effective to ensure that the cessation of
war agreement and the course of negotiations do not fail.
The Palestinian people, despite the policies they face in
terms of settlement, annexation and displacement, will continue to adhere to
their inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of their
independent State on their entire territory.
In the face of these developments, Shahid stresses that any
attempt to annex the West Bank or parts thereof is null and void by law, and
constitutes a war crime that requires accountability and accountability. It
calls for:
1. The international community, in particular the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, should take immediate and
concrete steps to stop the annexation policy and impose sanctions on the
Israeli government and its members who support this step.
2. The ICC should expedite the expansion of its investigation
into Israeli war crimes to include the crime of annexation as an ongoing crime.
3. Mobilizing political and legal positions and efforts to
confront this grave violation, and strengthening the tools of diplomatic and
economic pressure on the occupying power.
4. Urgent international action to put an end to the policy of
impunity enjoyed by the occupation authorities and to protect the Palestinian
people and their inalienable rights.