Mia Wilson

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to abandon annexation plans, warning the plans would threaten peace with Palestinians (Reuters 1). Guterres spoke of the longstanding goal to establish a two-state solution with an independent and contiguous Palestine (France 24). Various UN experts agree experts with Guterres, stating released a statement declaring “The annexation of occupied territory is a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions” (BBC). In agreement with Guterres, The experts they added Israeli occupation was a “source of profound human rights violations against the Palestinian people” that would “only intensify after annexation” (BBC).

Guterres said “Annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law” (Reuters 1). Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated that annexation “will destroy any prospect for peace in the future” (France 24). On Wednesday, over 1000 European lawmakers released a letter outlining their concerns with the annexation plan (Reuters 2). The letter stated said “Such a move will be fatal to the prospects of Israeli-Palestinian peace and will challenge the most basic norms guiding international relations” (Reuters 2).

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-un/u-n-chief-calls-on-israel-to-abandon-west-bank-annexation-plan-idUSKBN23V1ZB
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-europe/lawmakers-in-europe-call-on-israel-to-ditch-annexation-plans-idUSKBN23V1UR
https://www.france24.com/en/20200624-un-chief-appeals-to-israel-to-abandon-west-bank-annexation-plans
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53062134

Posted July 1, 2020