Credit: By Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times/ United Nations Secretary-General António  Guterres

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK –  Israel’s plan to annex significant parts of the occupied Palestinian West Bank would create “a Palestinian Bantustan” and violates a core principle of international law. Nearly 50 independent human rights experts warned .  UN Secretary-General António  Guterres Wednesday called on Israel to scrap plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, a move that could occur as early as next week

“We are at a watershed moment. If implemented, annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law, grievously harm the prospect of a two-State solution and undercut the possibilities of a renewal of negotiations. I call on the Israeli Government to abandon its annexation plans.”  

UN Secretary-General António  Guterres  told a virtual meeting of the Security Council

UN News/Reem Abaza / Bethlehem: part of the barrier between Israel and the West Bank

“The annexation of occupied territory is a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions, and contrary to the fundamental rule affirmed many times by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly that the acquisition of territory by war or force is inadmissible.”

-Statement by Human Rights Experts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made annexation a major pledge during campaigning, ahead of the latest round of national elections held in March. The proposal would see sovereignty extended to roughly 30 per cent of the West Bank, covering most of the Jordan Valley and hundreds of illegal Israeli settlements. In response, Palestinian leaders have cut ties with Israel and the United States, which backed the plan.

United States Backs Israeli Annexation Plan in West Bank 

 ©Diplomatic Times /   Ambassador Kelly Craft  Permanent Representative  U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

Both American and Israeli official support the annexation.   With the strong backing by U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu has set the target date of July 1 for annexation of West Bank territories.

“I understand that many of you have concerns with this issue of the potential extension of Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. At the same time, we ask that you also hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for acts they are responsible for. It does not help anyone to only look backwards and point to what could have been. The Palestinian leadership has a responsibility to pursue the prosperity of their people.”

-Ambassador Kelly Craft  Permanent Representative  U.S. Mission to the UN  told the Security Council