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The Century Deal contradicts with the intuition of the international law, and a call for immediate and urgent intervention to save the United Nations system.

The Century Deal contradicts with the intuition of the international law, and a call for immediate and urgent intervention to save the United Nations system.

 

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 from the White House the peace plan known as "the century deal" in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the absence of any Palestinian party. The occupation prime minister praised the plan, considering it a "realistic path" to achieving a lasting peace in the region.

The most important clauses of the century deal that violate Palestinian rights:

1. The United States confess Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

2. Jerusalem will remain an undivided capital of the Israeli occupation state.

3. A demilitarized Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel, but under strict conditions including a forbid on Palestinians to join any international organization or agreement without the approval of the occupation.

4. Israel agreed to "freeze the land" for four years to ensure that a two-state solution is possible.

5. Israel will "keep protecting" the holy places in Jerusalem and ensure freedom of worship for Jews, Christians, Muslims and other religions.

6. Jerusalem will remain united and will remain the capital of the State of Israel.

7. The capital of the State of Palestine will include areas in East Jerusalem, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said that the capital will be in Abu Dis, which is located 1.6 km east of the Old City in Jerusalem.

8. A map of the demarcation of the borders for a "realistic two-state solution that provides a viable path for the Palestinian state".

9. Called for the economic aspect of the plan which included the establishment of an investment fund worth 50 billion dollars to support the Palestinian economy and the economy of neighboring Arab countries.

Contradict with the intuition of the international law:

The Century deal is in contradiction to Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 194 calling for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 as a way to promote the peace process between the two sides. Israel's failure to fulfill the demand for withdrawal from the disputed territories is a direction that leads to rebellion and neglect of international peace resolutions. It also effectively deprives Palestinian refugees the right to self-determination.

The deal also includes other violations of international law, which relate to the right of refugees to return to their ancestral lands. And Palestinians have lived as refugees in occupied Palestine and in other countries as foreigners, or as second-class citizens.

Since 1948, Palestinians have continued to move between many countries, which have further complicated the refugee crisis in terms of legal definitions. However, even though most of these Palestinians live in different countries as refugees, they remain protected under international laws that support the right to self-determination.

Amnesty International also confirmed, "The sad package of proposals presented by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which violates international law and deprives Palestinians of their rights, is a guide to further suffering and violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories." The organization called on the international community to reject the procedures that violate the international law that were included in President Donald Trump's "the Century deal". The organization also noted that the deal proposes to annex more Palestinian lands to Israel, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

 

The deal of the century is an attempt to normalize relations between Arab countries with the Israeli occupation without properly solving the Palestinian issue, and without referring to the Palestinian will. Regarding of these risks to the Palestinian cause, the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) recommends the following:

1. The United Nations bears full responsibility towards the Palestinian issue and works to implement the international resolutions issued by it.

2. Confirmation on the right of the Palestinian people in self-determination.

3. Calling on the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States and other regional organizations to intervene immediately and put pressure on the American administration to urge it to withdraw its decisions to liquidate the Palestinian issue and destroy the system of international law.

 

Beirut 29/1/2020

Palestinian Association for Human Rights (witness)