{"id":214650,"date":"2019-04-04T09:51:57","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T13:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=214650"},"modified":"2020-07-22T00:45:17","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T04:45:17","slug":"speakers-consider-proposed-law-in-ireland-to-ban-imports-from-illegal-settlements-as-un-forum-on-question-of-palestine-discusses-de-facto-annexation-press-release-ga-pal-1424","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/speakers-consider-proposed-law-in-ireland-to-ban-imports-from-illegal-settlements-as-un-forum-on-question-of-palestine-discusses-de-facto-annexation-press-release-ga-pal-1424\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers Consider Proposed Law in Ireland to Ban Imports from Illegal Settlements, as UN Forum on Question of Palestine Discusses de Facto Annexation \u2013 Press Release (GA\/PAL\/1424)"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORUM ON QUESTION OF PALESTINE (AM & PM)<\/strong>
\nGA\/PAL\/1424<\/strong>
\n4 APRIL 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n

video<\/a><\/p>\n

As they adressed the stalled peace process and \u201ccreeping annexation\u201d by Israel of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, delegates, activists and policymakers participating in a high-level forum on the question of Palestine considered a variety of solutions ranging from full Palestinian statehood recognition to a bill in Ireland\u2019s parliament to ban imported goods produced in the illegal settlements.<\/p>\n

Some of the first decisions of the Â鶹APP were aimed at resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Â鶹APP Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, reminded the Forum, in his opening remarks addressing the theme: \u00a0\u201cThe threat of de facto annexation \u2014 what next for Palestine?\u201d \u00a0Urging Israel to lift restrictions on the movement of people and goods, he stressed that the two-State solution is the only way to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and lasting peace for Israel.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no plan B,\u201d he underscored, also noting that Palestinian unity is essential for a politically stable and economically viable Palestine and welcoming the tireless efforts of Egypt to continue dialogue with Palestinian factions.<\/p>\n

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, also expressed gratitude to Egypt as he called on Palestinians to \u201cput our house in order\u201d and end the split between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. \u00a0Portraying the tremendous frustration experienced by Palestinians and an international community frozen in place waiting for a \u201cgrand plan\u201d, he recalled that in the Security Council, votes on the topic always result in a 14-1 outcome. \u00a0Highlighting the support provided by the United States Administration to Israel, he stressed that despite all this, Palestinians will not raise the white flag of surrender.<\/p>\n

Cheikh Niang (Senegal), Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, called on the international community to stop the \u201claissez-faire attitude that turns a blind eye to Israel\u2019s indifference\u201d. \u00a0Despite Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), which calls for an end to the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, more than 3,000 housing units are planned in Area C of the West Bank.\u00a0 Urging Israel to cease their construction, he said that any unilateral moves to change the political, religious and cultural character of Jerusalem \u2014 a city sacred to three religions \u2014 would be detrimental to the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

\u201cA gradual, inhumane and de facto annexation is unfolding before our eyes,\u201d Retno Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, cautioned the Forum. \u00a0Underscoring that the State of Palestine and the occupying Power are not on a level playing field, she called for concrete measures, such as striving for the recognition of Palestine as a Â鶹APP Member State. \u00a0Spotlighting the budgetary challenges faced by the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), she commended the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for establishing a waqf trust fund to support the Agency and added that Indonesia will double its own annual contribution.<\/p>\n

The Forum then held two panel discussions featuring scholars and activists, with the first one themed \u201cFrom occupation to annexation \u2014 reality in the occupied Palestinian territory\u201d. \u00a0Human rights defender Raji Sourani, who spoke from Gaza via videoconference, said that practically and legally, it is as if the Palestinians did not exist. \u00a0Ilan Baruch, a former Israeli diplomat and now the Chairperson of the Policy Working Group of activists on the Middle East Peace Process based on the two-State paradigm, outlined the ways in which the Israeli Government is consolidating its physical control over East Jerusalem through eviction of Palestinian residents and erasing the Palestinian story from the tourist sites of the city.<\/p>\n

Also on that panel was Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory, who pointed out that while Israel denies that the laws of occupation apply to the West Bank, it has taken multiple steps to establish a sovereign claim over it. \u00a0Citing as an example the highway network that used to be a north-south system, which Israel has now reconfigured as an east-west system benefiting its own economy, he said: \u00a0\u201cAnnexation is in the air\u201d.<\/p>\n

Speakers in the afternoon panel, on the theme of \u201cViable and practical steps for the international community to stem annexation\u201d, considered various legal and economic measures. \u00a0Frances Black, Senator of the Seanad \u00c9ireann of Ireland, drew on her country\u2019s experience as the first in the world to end trade in goods with apartheid South Africa, and spotlighted the Occupied Territories bill she had tabled which is expected to pass into law in Ireland shortly.\u00a0 The bill, the first of its kind in the European Union, seeks to ban the import and sale of goods produced in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommercial activity is not divorced from political impact,\u201d said Conor O\u2019Neill, Researcher and Policy Adviser of the Seanad \u00c9ireann of Ireland, noting that the European Union imports 15 times more goods from Israeli settlements than from the State of Palestine. \u00a0That has a material impact on the State of Palestine\u2019s ability to grow a functioning economy, he stressed. \u00a0Ziad AbuZayyad, former Minister for the State of Palestine, called on the international community to launch a full boycott of settlements.\u00a0 Israel must freeze all settlement activities, whether in Jerusalem or the West Bank, and international companies must be precluded from doing business with them.<\/p>\n

Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man, Human Rights Attorney, pointed out that the success of Israel\u2019s occupation has always been in its \u201cability to make subtle, incremental changes that fly under the radar and that are anchored in sophisticated law.\u201d \u00a0Calling on third States to engage in legal and diplomatic efforts to remind Israel of the bounds of international humanitarian law, she warned: \u00a0\u201cIf we wait for formal, de jure annexation, it will have been too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opening Remarks<\/u><\/p>\n

OSCAR FERNANDEZ-TARANCO, Â鶹APP Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, recalling that some of the first decisions of the Organization were aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said that the problem goes to the heart of the Charter of the Â鶹APP, according to which the annexation of territory by another State is inadmissible.\u00a0 The Palestinians have endured prolonged occupation and the peace process has stalled, with security incidents and provocations continuing to escalate the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.\u00a0 A new conflict would be devastating for the Palestinian people, he said, noting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the military build-up by Hamas and other militant groups.<\/p>\n

Stressing that Palestinian unity is essential for a politically stable and economically viable Palestine, he welcomed the tireless efforts of Egypt to continue dialogue with Palestinian factions and urged Israel to lift restrictions on movement of people and goods.\u00a0 In the occupied West Bank, the construction of settlements continues unabated, he pointed out, emphasizing that settlements are illegal under international law.\u00a0 Both parties must avoid unilateral actions that undermine the two-State solution \u2014 the only way to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and lasting peace for Israel.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no plan B,\u201d he underscored, and the parties to the conflict owe it to their citizens as well as future generations of Israelis and Palestinians to break the cycle of violence.<\/p>\n

CHEIKH NIANG (Senegal), Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said the growth of Israeli settlements has profoundly fragmented Palestinian land and made the two-State solution harder.\u00a0 Even though Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) calls for an end to the construction of such settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, more than 3,000 housing units are planned in Area C of the West Bank.\u00a0 As such, he called on Israel to cease the construction of illegal settlements and halt demolitions of Palestinian structures.\u00a0 Moreover, any unilateral moves to change the political, religious and cultural character of Jerusalem \u2014 a city sacred to three religions \u2014 would be detrimental to the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East, he observed.<\/p>\n

He went on to emphasize that all such outstanding issues should only be addressed as part of final status negotiations, adding that \u201cwe will continue to champion these objectives until there is a Palestinian State, side by side with Israel, with secure and recognized borders.\u201d\u00a0 He also called on Palestinian leaders to constructively engage in reconciliation and resolve the current political impasse in that regard.\u00a0 The international community must stop the \u201claissez-faire attitude that turns a blind eye to Israel\u2019s indifference to the broader questions of peace,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Member States must hold Israel accountable for its actions by enforcing Â鶹APP resolutions and international law in their dealings.<\/p>\n

RIYAD MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, described the tremendous frustration experienced by its people and leadership.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s protracted illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and its construction of illegal settlements must end, he said.\u00a0 In that regard, he expressed regret about the lack of progress from Israel.\u00a0 \u201cThey are getting away with murder,\u201d he emphasized, adding \u201csomething has to change\u201d.\u00a0 He recalled that Palestinians have proposed ideas for a collective process led by the Security Council, noting that a political will must emerge in that regard.\u00a0 \u201cWe do not accept the fate of being between a rock and a hard place,\u201d he said, noting that the United States Administration is providing Israel with political support and denying Palestinians their rights at political and diplomatic levels.\u00a0 He called on the international community to muster political will in order to implement its global consensus.<\/p>\n

He went on to cite the Committee\u2019s meetings in Brussels, Belgium, and in Canada, observing that the international community cannot be frozen in place waiting for a \u201cgrand plan\u201d on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\u00a0 In the Security Council, votes on the topic always result in a 14-1 outcome, he recalled, asking what States are doing to end the occupation.\u00a0 He called for practical ways to implement the international community\u2019s will, pointing out that the community is not elevating itself in terms of addressing the Palestinian people\u2019s rights.\u00a0 Such practical solutions might include legal options at the International Criminal Court or at the national level, compelling Israel to accept their obligations under international law.\u00a0 Moreover, Palestinians have an obligation to \u201cput our house in order\u201d and end the split between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.\u00a0 In that regard, he expressed gratitude to Egypt for its help.\u00a0 \u201cPalestinian people will not raise white flags,\u201d he emphasized, adding \u201cthey will never surrender.\u201d<\/p>\n

RETNO MARSUDI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of\u00a0Indonesia<\/u>, said that in the past three months alone, there have been unprecedented unilateral measures by the occupying Power, including the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues and the continued expansion of illegal settlements.\u00a0 \u201cA gradual, inhumane and de facto annexation is unfolding before our eyes,\u201d she said, adding that the Forum on Palestine has a crucial role to play given that disunity has paralyzed the Security Council.\u00a0 The Palestinian issue is at the heart of her country\u2019s foreign policy, she said, and Indonesia will be persistent in raising that issue, including next month during the country\u2019s presidency of the Council.<\/p>\n

Turning to the humanitarian situation in the occupied territory, she noted that the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is again facing a challenging year.\u00a0 Commending the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for establishing a waqf trust fund to support the Agency, she said that Indonesia will double its annual contribution to UNRWA\u2019s core budget.\u00a0 Noting that the State of Palestine and the occupying Power are not on a level-playing field, she said it therefore falls on the international community to assist the Palestinians.\u00a0 A concrete measure in that regard is to strive for the recognition of Palestine as a Â鶹APP Member State, she emphasized.<\/p>\n

Panel I<\/u><\/p>\n

The Forum then held a panel discussion on the theme \u201cFrom occupation to annexation \u2014 reality in the occupied Palestinian territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moderated by Mouin Rabbani, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies, it featured the following panellists:\u00a0 Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre Human Rights; Ilan Baruch, Former Ambassador of Israel and Chairperson of the Policy Working Group of activists on the Middle East Peace Process based on the two-State paradigm; and, Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.<\/p>\n

Mr. SOURANI, who spoke from Gaza via videoconference, said that with rampant unemployment, almost 85\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the population there depends on UNRWA and other aid agencies.\u00a0 The situation in Gaza is the biggest manmade disaster, he said, adding that all international agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have made it clear that the siege of Gaza is a political punishment and a crime against humanity.\u00a0 Even reconstructing Gaza has become a mission impossible due to the blockade, he said, adding that this year, approaching the first anniversary of the March of Return protests, Israel made it clear it would shoot and kill anyone protesting.<\/p>\n

With a free hand in the Gaza Strip, the Judaization of Jerusalem and expanding settlements in the West Bank, Israel is perpetuating a new brand of apartheid, he said.\u00a0 Practically and legally, it is as if the Palestinians did not exist, he said, adding that when Palestinian activists resorted to international mechanisms to seek remedies for victims or attempted to apply universal jurisdiction in European countries, \u201cin a very strange way, within months, laws are changed, providing more legal immunity to Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr. BARUCH said that as the occupation turned into annexation, he turned from a loyal diplomat who served the Israeli Government to a political activist. \u00a0Jerusalem is the core of the Palestine-Israel relations, he stressed, and the Netanyahu Government has taken strides to consolidate its physical control over East Jerusalem, while systematically weakening the Palestinian\u2019s capacity to maintain livelihood, education, housing and political leadership in the city. \u00a0While the Green Line, the June 1967 border that is supposed to be the basis of a negotiated agreement between Israel and Palestine, is systematically eroded by Israel, the United States Administration has introduced a far-reaching shift in ignoring the Palestinian aspiration to have its future Government seated in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 Alongside the systematic eviction of Palestinian residents from the city, Israel is also entrusting tourist properties to nationalist organizations that portray only the Jewish narrative, thus setting up the extinction of the Palestinian story.\u00a0 \u201cJerusalem is the most glaring example of a systematic denial of the Palestinian essence,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

Mr. LYNK, who focused on the legal aspects of the topic, said that annexation is strictly prohibited under international law, as enshrined in the Charter, in recognition of the cost of the territorial ambitions that had led to the two World Wars.\u00a0 Noting how last week the Israeli Prime Minister, upon returning to Tel Aviv from Washington, D.C., said that territory occupied in a defensive war \u201cis ours\u201d, he stressed that this is not the opinion shared by international legal scholars.\u00a0 Noting the 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact and the proclamation of the Charter in 1948, he stressed that a military victory does not mean a legal victory.<\/p>\n

Outlining the criteria for deciding whether annexation has taken place, including effective control over territory, exercising of sovereignty, expressions of intent and international law and directions, he said that while Israel denies that the laws of occupation apply to the West Bank and has expressed a willingness to negotiate, in reality, it has taken multiple steps to establish a sovereign claim over the West Bank, such as control over the West bank\u2019s water system.\u00a0 Another example is that the highway network that used to be a north-south system has now been reconfigured as an east-west system benefiting the Israeli economy.\u00a0 \u201cAnnexation is in the air\u201d and is increasingly being expressed in words and not just deeds, he said.<\/p>\n

In the ensuing dialogue, panellists and delegates focused on the changing legal scenario surrounding the conflict and its effect on the stalemate in the peace process.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0Organization of Islamic Cooperation<\/u>\u00a0condemned Israel\u2019s actions aimed at altering the Arab-Islamic identity of Jerusalem and changing its demographic composition, which have become commonplace.\u00a0 Affirming his organization\u2019s support to the Palestinian people, he said that reversing this historic injustice requires multilateral political engagement within a defined time frame.<\/p>\n

Mr. RABBANI asked the panellists to comment on the two-State solution in light of the fact that Israel\u2019s actions can no longer be considered an occupation and should be considered an annexation.<\/p>\n

Mr. SOURANI said that Palestinians are back to square one because the two-State solution has put them into a political and legal limbo.\u00a0 If Palestinians call for a one-State solution now, Israel will interpret it as a call \u201cto throw Jews into the sea\u201d.\u00a0 In Gaza, \u201cI don\u2019t know how we are surviving,\u201d he said, and amidst the despair and poverty, Israel gets to decide what clothes Palestinians wear, how much electricity they have.<\/p>\n

Mr. BARCUH said that the reason for the dismal failure of the previous United States Administration\u2019s Kerry initiative was the lack of readiness on the Israeli side to help consolidate the capacity of the Palestinian leadership to negotiate.\u00a0 The Trump Administration has completely undermined the Palestinian side by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and removing the refugee return issue from the table.<\/p>\n

Mr. LYNK said that if the international community is indeed witnessing an occupation turning into an annexation, then it is time to rethink the assumption that the ongoing occupation is not sustainable.\u00a0 Europe and the international community have continued to play diplomatic checkers while Israel is playing diplomatic chess.\u00a0 He pointed out that the ascendant Israeli right can live comfortably while denying Palestinian rights and taking Palestinian land.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Angola<\/u>\u00a0underlined the importance of multilateral organizations such as the Â鶹APP as venues for dialogue and cooperation against the backdrop of the changing landscape of conflicts across the world.\u00a0 Citing growing demands for jobs, human rights, gender equality, diversity and democratic values in the Middle East, he said rising tensions are only exacerbated by the lack of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0asked the panellists what actions they would recommend to the Member States, private sector and global citizenry to give effect to Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) and its call on them to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.<\/p>\n

Mr. BARUCH said that it is evident that Israel is not a practical target for a worldwide boycott because it is economically and technologically powerful.\u00a0 Mr.\u00a0LYNK said that there is a longstanding practice in international law for third parties to not engage economically with occupying Powers.\u00a0 Further, third-State responsibility and accountability will be the focus of his next report to the General Assembly.<\/p>\n

Tunisia<\/u>\u2019s representative stressed the need for a united international policy that rejects Israel\u2019s de facto occupation.<\/p>\n

Fielding a question from the observer of the State of Palestine about the current Israeli leadership, Mr. BARUCH said that Prime Minister Netanyahu will leave behind him a collective attitude towards Palestine, even if he loses in the next election.\u00a0 \u201cI am waiting in despair\u201d for the moment someone will create a more positive state of mind towards Palestine in Israel, he said, noting that he was working towards this.<\/p>\n

A representative of\u00a0Gisha<\/u>, a nongovernmental organization working in Gaza, said that Israeli restrictions on Gaza had led to the \u201cde-development\u201d of the Palestinian economy and separation of families.<\/p>\n

Mr. LYNK noted that Gisha has been working to protect human rights in Gaza, while under tremendous pressure.\u00a0 Turning to the role of the United States leadership, he recalled United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo\u2019s visit to the Wailing Wall and said it is a grave mistake to ignore the Green Line.\u00a0 Mr.\u00a0LYNK said he feared that the peace plan to be presented by Washington will be so under the minimum that Palestinians cannot accept it, which will end the peace process immediately.<\/p>\n

Panel II<\/u><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, the Forum held a panel discussion under the theme \u201cViable and practical steps for the international community to stem annexation\u201d.\u00a0 Marya Farah, Legal Researcher and Advocacy Officer, Al-Haq, moderated the discussion, which featured four panellists:\u00a0 Ziad AbuZayyad, former Minister for the State of Palestine, and co-editor of the Palestine-Israel Journal; Frances Black, Senator of the Seanad \u00c9ireann of Ireland; Conor O\u2019Neill, Researcher and Policy Adviser of the Seanad \u00c9ireann of Ireland; and Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man, Human Rights Attorney.<\/p>\n

Ms. BLACK recalled that she tabled an Occupied Territories bill in Ireland\u2019s Senate in January 2018 and expects it to pass into law shortly.\u00a0 The bill seeks to ban the import and sale of goods produced in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and is the first of its kind in the European Union.\u00a0 \u201cThere have to be consequences for breaking international law,\u201d she emphasized, adding that \u201ctrade in settlement goods helps sustain injustice\u201d.\u00a0 Noting that the bill does not represent a boycott of Israel, she pointed out that it is focused solely on the settlements.\u00a0 Describing the human cost of the settlements and citing the stories of Palestinians who visited Ireland, she noted that she was inspired to act after visiting the Gaza Strip herself.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s Government sanctioned more than 1,000 new settlement homes in 2018, she observed, stressing: \u201cAt this rate, there will soon be no Palestinian State left to recognize.\u201d\u00a0 Ireland was the first country in the world to end trade in goods with Apartheid South Africa, she recalled, adding that she wants to do the same with this bill.\u00a0 \u201cIreland can lead on this and other countries can follow us,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n

Mr. O\u2019NEILL said that, with the Occupied Territories bill, Ireland is seeking to give meaningful effect to the basic rules of international law.\u00a0 It represents a step towards fulfilling Ireland\u2019s existing obligations under existing international law, and as such, it is an endorsement of multilateralism.\u00a0 Small States like Ireland especially benefit from an international order based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.\u00a0 The application of such laws should not be based on a crude form of \u201crealpolitik\u201d and their violations should result in consequences.\u00a0 \u201cCommercial activity is not divorced from political impact,\u201d he said, noting that Ireland is seeking a binding commitment on business and human rights.\u00a0 The bill attempts to highlight a fundamental disconnect because while settlements are repeatedly condemned as illegal, that rhetorical commitment cannot be squared with the continued financial support that flows to them.<\/p>\n

That support is helping to entrench a discriminatory two-tier system in the West Bank, he pointed out, noting that the European Union imports 15 times more goods from Israeli settlements than from the State of Palestine.\u00a0 This has a material impact on the State of Palestine\u2019s ability to grow a functioning economy.\u00a0 He also emphasized that the Irish bill should not be seen as anti-Israel or as partisan, citing testimony by Israeli citizens in that regard.<\/p>\n

Mr. ABUZAYYAD observed that some might say negotiations have failed and Israel has won the war and, thus, Palestinians must capitulate.\u00a0 The counter-argument is that Palestinians will never submit and recognize defeat.\u00a0 Some consider the solution to the issue as one Jewish State, and this has become the de facto situation on the ground.\u00a0 Israel should announce the de jure annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he said.\u00a0 Based on the Nation State law, he pointed out, Palestinians in Israel are deprived of their right to self-determination, which is exclusively to be enjoyed by Jews.\u00a0 The apartheid system failed in South Africa and is bound to fail in the Occupied Territories as well, he noted, thanks to progressive Jewish allies who will fight with Palestinians against racism.\u00a0 Some suggest the solution of a single democratic State where all citizens are equal, but this option stands no chance.\u00a0 It would be na\u00efve to think that the two peoples will easily relinquish their specific identities and become one single community.\u00a0 \u201cThe realistic solution is the two-State solution,\u201d he emphasized, pointing out that in many democratic States, certain communities pursue independence.<\/p>\n

The Oslo process has failed, he observed, because it was very ambiguous.\u00a0 Moreover, Israel failed to implement the agreement, and continued building settlements.\u00a0 He called on Israel to freeze all settlement activities, whether in Jerusalem or the West Bank, and the international community must launch a full boycott of those settlements.\u00a0 International companies must be precluded from doing business with them.\u00a0 Moreover, the international community should refuse any change to the legal status of Jerusalem and United States procedures recognizing it as the capital of Israel.\u00a0 \u201cWithout Jerusalem, there will be no basis for the two-State solution,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

Ms. SCHAEFFER OMER-MAN noted that the prohibition of annexation comes from consensus reached in the twentieth century about the illegitimacy of acquiring territory by force.\u00a0 Moreover, the prohibition is rooted in the international community\u2019s concern about the welfare and rights of civilians trapped in disputes over territory.\u00a0 \u201cSettlements are illegal in order to protect the civilians living under occupation,\u201d she said, stressing that occupation must be temporary.\u00a0 To prevent further annexation, she called for sensitivity to its signs, adding:\u00a0 \u201cIf we wait for formal, de jure annexation, it will have been too late.\u201d\u00a0 Every step further entrenching Israel\u2019s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and increasing its control over Palestinian lives constitutes a stepping stone on the way to annexation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe success of Israel\u2019s occupation has always been in its ability to make subtle, incremental changes that fly under the radar and that are anchored in sophisticated law,\u201d she observed.\u00a0 Israeli courts can be critical in the fight to stem annexation and force the system to contend with its inherent contradictions.\u00a0 In parallel, third States must also engage in legal and diplomatic efforts to remind Israel of the bounds of international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Such legal actions will send an important signal to Israel about the international community\u2019s \u201cred lines\u201d when it comes to annexation and the human rights abuses inherent in it, she pointed out.<\/p>\n

In the ensuing discussion, delegates and civil society representatives discussed the proposed legislation in Ireland, the issue of \u201ccreeping annexation\u201d and the human rights situation in Israel.<\/p>\n

Ms. FARAH asked about the role of civil society in Ireland in terms of passing the Occupied Territories bill.<\/p>\n

Ms. BLACK and Mr. O\u2019NEILL cited the role of many supportive civil society organizations in Ireland, noting that a coalition of organizations have provided legal support and advocacy.<\/p>\n

Ms. FARAH asked about steps the international community should take in the context of recent United States actions with regards to Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.<\/p>\n

Mr. ABUZAYYAD said that the United States itself has participated in drafting Security Council resolutions that President Trump is now violating and disgracing.\u00a0 As such, he asked about the future and the role of the Security Council.\u00a0 He noted that if this phenomenon is not halted, there will be no value to Â鶹APP resolutions.<\/p>\n

Ms. FARAH asked about using Israeli courts to pursue human rights issues.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. SCHAEFFER OMER-MAN said using Israeli courts poses the risk of setting a bad precedent and further entrenching harmful policies, as well as legitimizing a legal system that has provided cover to occupation policies.\u00a0 However, carefully selected cases can be strategically brought to Israeli courts.\u00a0 Bringing such cases forces the State to assert its policies and provide a response to allegations about violating international law.\u00a0 As such, this option provides a tool for the international community to organize other strategies to combat those policies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0said it is important to act, expressing gratitude for Ireland\u2019s bill.\u00a0 With the adoption of such legislation, existing rules and Â鶹APP resolutions will be given tangible effect.\u00a0 Such efforts provide hope that it is possible to mobilize political will.\u00a0 She asked about any potential to connect with other parliamentarians in that regard.<\/p>\n

    Ms. BLACK said that once Ireland\u2019s legislation has passed, they hope to speak with parliamentarians in other parts of Europe.\u00a0 Once it passes, she is hopeful that others will follow, just as what happened in the case of apartheid in South Africa.<\/p>\n

    The representative of\u00a0Indonesia<\/u>\u00a0asked for elaboration on future arrangements with regards to Areas A, B and C of the Oslo Accords, as well as advocacy work in Israel regarding the annexation issue.<\/p>\n

    Mr. ABUZAYYAD said the Oslo Accords cannot just be discarded but must instead be built upon.\u00a0 Israelis have stopped their process of redeployment, and Palestinians remain with 43\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Areas A and B.\u00a0 As a first step, Israel must respect its own commitments by not entering Palestinian areas.\u00a0 Economic actions will provide results, he said, adding that Israel is making a business out of the occupation and has no reason to leave the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 They cannot feel the burden of occupation unless there is resistance inside the Territory and there is a boycott of the settlements.\u00a0 If that does not work, he called for the next step of boycotting Israel.<\/p>\n

    Ms. SCHAEFFER OMER-MAN cited the changing role played by the Jerusalem district court, observing that decisions are being made in that court according to Israeli domestic law and not according to applicable occupation law.\u00a0 She also noted that the Israeli left has been shrinking because of restrictions on funding and freedom of expression for civil society.\u00a0 However, a vibrant community is pushing back against the occupation, including using language to counter the mainstream Israeli discourse. \u00a0She provided examples of civil society efforts under way in that context.<\/p>\n

    Mr. ABUZAYYAD observed the politicization of Israel\u2019s High Court in terms of the expansion the jurisdiction of district courts.\u00a0 This represents what some call \u201ccreeping annexation.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The representative of\u00a0South Africa<\/u>\u00a0said his country remains steadfast in support of the Palestinian cause, which is a just and noble cause as was in the case of his own country in the context of apartheid.<\/p>\n

    A member of\u00a0civil society<\/u>\u00a0asked what is being done to safeguard the well-being and safety of Palestinian children and health-care workers at risk.<\/p>\n

    Ms. SCHAEFFER OMER-MAN said an exact legal strategy has not yet been found to change how Palestinian children are treated in Israel.\u00a0 However, the media represents a powerful tool, and Israel\u2019s military responds when the optics of its policies prove unsavoury.<\/p>\n

    The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0said that in terms of the collective effort in support of Palestinians living under occupation, labelling settlement products in Europe represented a significant step.\u00a0 Such evolution has allowed for the current initiative in Ireland\u2019s parliament, which should be complemented by many others, perhaps in Africa or the Middle East.\u00a0 Moreover, civil society organizations must bring pressure to bear on their Governments.\u00a0 While it is important to highlight legal complexities and descriptions in terms of occupation, more must be done to expose the occupation to create the appropriate environment for moving forward, learning from the experience of South Africa.<\/p>\n

    Ms. BLACK said the bill can make a difference.\u00a0 She asked delegates to talk about what Ireland is doing when they return to their countries.<\/p>\n

    The representative of\u00a0Nigeria<\/u>\u00a0asked for an estimate of where the Palestinian issue will be in five years if the expansion of Israeli settlements continues.<\/p>\n

    Mr. ABUZAYYAD said there will be resistance, with violence and victims on both sides.\u00a0 However, even if that scenario arises, what happened in South Africa will happen again.\u00a0 The world is becoming very small because of social media, and in the future, it will unite against an apartheid regime in Israel, spelling the end of a Jewish State.\u00a0 Israel must choose what it wants: \u00a0If Israelis want a Jewish State, they must withdraw from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. SCHAEFFER OMER-MAN cited an advertisement in a right-wing Israeli newspaper advocating for separation rather than annexation.\u00a0 The Israeli public is aware of what it would mean from a security and democratic perspective to have a single apartheid State.\u00a0 There provides an opportunity to shift discourse and strategies accordingly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A member of\u00a0civil society<\/u>\u00a0asked what is being done in terms of the relationship between the human rights community in Israel and the United States Jewish community.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. SCHAEFFER OMER-MAN said in recent years, the two communities have been able to communicate more and discuss how their voices can be amplified.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Ms. FARAH asked about the stages the Irish bill still has to go through and potential hurdles it may face.<\/p>\n

        Ms. BLACK said only two more stages remain before it is passed into law.<\/p>\n

        Mr. O\u2019NEILL said that one of the steps remaining involves a line-by-line reading before the bill becomes law.\u00a0 There is also a movement in the United States to aggressively push back against the issue and paint the bill as something it is not.\u00a0 However, Ireland\u2019s people know what is in the text of the legislation and that it reflects international law.\u00a0 \u201cOur job is to not be afraid of criticism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

        A member of civil society asked about the role of education.<\/p>\n

        Ms. BLACK said she had to educate Israel\u2019s parliament on the issue and the bill.\u00a0 The movement begins one-to-one, carrying the message and taking action.<\/p>\n

        Another civil society representative highlighted attempts to criminalize participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, asking about defending its legality.<\/p>\n

        Mr. O\u2019NEILL said that Israeli human rights organizations and defenders face enormous pressure but they continue their work.\u00a0 If people can keep going under those circumstances, then students on college campuses must not fear standing up for Palestinian rights.\u00a0 If people crack down or criminalize such discussions, then that is a sign that the discussions are becoming serious, he observed.<\/p>\n

        The representative of\u00a0Ireland<\/u>\u00a0said his delegation opposes the proposed bill because it would be in breach of its European Union obligations. \u00a0Ireland, however, stands by the Palestinian people, he stressed.<\/p>\n

        Mr. O\u2019NEILL cited exceptions to that requirement on the basis of competing human rights obligations, and also noted that the issue may progress to the European Union Court of Justice.<\/p>\n

        Closing Remarks<\/u><\/p>\n

        RIYAD MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, thanking all participants, said that there is a remarkable outpouring of support in the United States for the Palestinian cause. \u00a0Support for Palestine among students in United States colleges surpasses support for Israel.\u00a0 This is a first in the history of the United States, he said, adding that it is not just Arab or Palestinian students, but also Jewish students and others across the political spectrum who believe in the just cause of Palestine. \u00a0The situation in Europe is similar, he said, noting that despite coercive measures, people continue to support the Palestinians.<\/p>\n

        CHEIKH NIANG (Senegal), Committee Chair, said that today\u2019s presentations provided a better insight into the realities of the creeping Israeli annexation of Palestinian territory. \u00a0The Forum has highlighted the importance of international law, he said, praising the diversity of perspectives. \u00a0The Committee constantly seeks to reinvent itself even amidst the uncertain context in which it is working, and it will bear in mind the various issues raised today, he said, adding that it would also continue dialogue with all stakeholders, including parties to the conflict, civil society, parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n

        For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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