Write to your MP about Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, and the major Israeli illegal settlements, on 1st July.
Dear (MP),
I am writing because of my commitment to social justice where everyone, despite their race, gender or creed, can live in freedom, with dignity, and where equal rights for all is respected. Therefore, I would like to make sure that you are aware that on 20th April 2020, a new unity government formed in Israel between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, the leader of the opposition. In the agreement that was signed between them, a clause was included to advance plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, and the major Israeli illegal settlements which will go into effect on 1st July.
This annexation will be a flagrant breach of international law, in particular the fourth Geneva Convention which is to govern the behaviour of an occupying power such as Israel. Annexation would only perpetuate and entrench the violation of Palestinian rights.
The UK government expressed its disapproval of the proposed annexation stating, “it would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and would be contrary to international law”.
Based on previous experience, I fear that this statement will probably be the limit of the UK government’s actions: there will be no stronger denunciation of Israel for flouting international law, and no proposals for action which might influence Israel’s behaviour, like sanctions such as banning illegal settlement goods being sold in the UK.
Annexation will make it clear that Israel has created and rules a single apartheid state between the river and the sea. Israel’s goal has always been to annex as much land as possible with as few Palestinian residents as possible, which is a settler-colonial policy. Once these areas are annexed, Israel could claim that members of these Palestinian communities are illegal aliens in its territory and expel them without difficulty. Therefore, this means that Palestinian individuals and communities are at risk of yet more demolitions and displacement and many other devastating discriminatory policies.
As my elected MP, can you please confirm your respect of international law and that what you are doing in parliament reflect this? If you support the state of Israel, how can you justify Israel’s creation of an apartheid state and not heed the Palestinian call to live in a democratic society where all will be able to live in freedom and to enjoy equal rights.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,