RBKC Labour Opposition Group
The RBKC Labour Opposition Group supports the recent Statement from the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres to the Security Council where he called on Israel to scrap plans to annex about 30% of the occupied Palestinian West Bank, a move that could occur as early as 1st July.
Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that he believes “We are at a watershed moment” and that “Israel’s threat to annex parts of the occupied West Bank has alarmed Palestinians, many Israeli’s and the broader international community”. He said that, “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”.
The Secretary General said that, “The goal is achieving the vision of two states – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognised borders, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states”
The Secretary General’s Statement was affirmed by nearly 50 United Nations Human Rights Experts who said in a joint statement that, “The annexation of occupied territory is a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Convention, 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”.
The RBKC Labour Opposition Group joins the United Nations in calling on the Israeli Government to abandon plans to annex land in the occupied Palestinian West Bank.
Cllr Pat Mason, Leader of the RBKC Labour Opposition Group, 1st July 2020
