Posts tagged International law

Palestinian shepherd Saed al-Zawahri stands at his home near Jerusalem, as the illegal Israeli settlement known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Jabal Abu Ghneim is seen in the background, on April 25, 2012. Al-Zawahri lost a third of his land as Israel continued expanding the settlement over the past decade, despite its mere existence violating international law. (Reuters)

From The Independent:

Under international law, any Jewish settlements built on occupied territory are illegal. These include all the settlements in the West Bank, and thousands of Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, the Arab-dominated sector of the city annexed by Israel after the 1967 Six Day War. The international community still regards East Jerusalem as occupied territory. Despite firm commitments from successive Israeli governments to dismantle illegal outposts built after 2001 and to cease expansion of the settlements, Israel has provided millions of dollars worth of incentives to encourage poorer families to move into the West Bank. Some 300,000 settlers live in the West Bank.

Palestinian Muslim men pray during a protest against the relocation of an Israeli road gate in the village of Beit Iksa in the occupied West Bank, between Ramallah and Jerusalem, on March 6, 2012. A recent decision by Israel to build the illegal separation barrier between Beit Iksa and Jerusalem has effectively put the village under Israeli occupation, isolating it from other nearby Palestinian towns. (Getty Images)

We are Nabi Saleh (Trailer)

Demonstrations take place in Nabi Saleh every Friday and have been doing so for the past two years, protesting against the theft of Palestinian land in the form of the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish and a water spring belonging to Palestinians that Israeli settlers have occupied for themselves.

In 2008 the settlers went down to the Ein Al-Kous spring, placed tabernacles and benches there, marked it up with blue stars of David, and “converted” it to Judaism; changing its name to ‘Ma’ayan Meir’, after one of the founders of the settlement.

President Abbas blames Israeli settlements for failed bid to revive top-level negotiations The Palestinians were last night preparing to walk away from talks with Israel aimed at reviving peace negotiations as international mediators frantically shuttled between Ramallah and Jerusalem in an attempt to keep the peace process alive. Palestinian representatives believe that negotiations have run their course as a deadline for both sides to present proposals on borders and security expires today. Israel, which has criticised the deadline as “artificial,” said talks should continue. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, said yesterday that the talks aimed at reviving top-level negotiations had ended without progress. “If we determine the borders it is possible to return to negotiations, but the Israelis don’t want to determine the borders,” he said. While mounting international pressure may yet persuade Mr Abbas to keep talking, the Palestinians are increasingly convinced that Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is unwilling to make the compromises necessary for a two-state solution. The Palestinians want Israel to accept the pre-1967 borders as a basis for negotiations, and halt Jewish settlement construction – deemed illegal in international law – in the occupied West Bank, the acceleration of which has convinced many that a two-state solution is moving out of reach. On both counts, Israel’s right-wing government has refused to yield. Reflecting the mood in the Palestinian camp, one official said: “For us, it’s over… Israel chose to [promote] settlements over peace”. Previously, Mr Abbas has warned that he would employ “other measures” to isolate Israel if the talks fail. It is thought that this could include reviving a UN statehood bid and asking the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes during the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian-controlled Gaza strip in 2008. The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers, comprising the US, the EU, Russia and the UN, which is represented by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said in October that both sides should present proposals and wrap up exploratory talks within three months, or by 26 January. Israel has refused to do so, claiming that it has until April. Continue reading Related articles: Israel must choose between settlements and peace Netanyahu balks at Abbas proposal for Palestinian state borders Israel is missing another opportunity for peace Photo: Construction of illegal Israeli settlements continue to accelerate, further raising doubts over Israel’s willingness to reach a peace agreement. This view shows the construction site of Givat Zeev near Jerusalem — one of many Israeli settlements built illegally on Palestinian land. (Reuters)

President Abbas blames Israeli settlements for failed bid to revive top-level negotiations

The Palestinians were last night preparing to walk away from talks with Israel aimed at reviving peace negotiations as international mediators frantically shuttled between Ramallah and Jerusalem in an attempt to keep the peace process alive.

Palestinian representatives believe that negotiations have run their course as a deadline for both sides to present proposals on borders and security expires today. Israel, which has criticised the deadline as “artificial,” said talks should continue.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, said yesterday that the talks aimed at reviving top-level negotiations had ended without progress. “If we determine the borders it is possible to return to negotiations, but the Israelis don’t want to determine the borders,” he said.

While mounting international pressure may yet persuade Mr Abbas to keep talking, the Palestinians are increasingly convinced that Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is unwilling to make the compromises necessary for a two-state solution.

The Palestinians want Israel to accept the pre-1967 borders as a basis for negotiations, and halt Jewish settlement construction – deemed illegal in international law – in the occupied West Bank, the acceleration of which has convinced many that a two-state solution is moving out of reach. On both counts, Israel’s right-wing government has refused to yield.

Reflecting the mood in the Palestinian camp, one official said: “For us, it’s over… Israel chose to [promote] settlements over peace”. Previously, Mr Abbas has warned that he would employ “other measures” to isolate Israel if the talks fail. It is thought that this could include reviving a UN statehood bid and asking the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes during the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian-controlled Gaza strip in 2008.

The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers, comprising the US, the EU, Russia and the UN, which is represented by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said in October that both sides should present proposals and wrap up exploratory talks within three months, or by 26 January. Israel has refused to do so, claiming that it has until April.

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Photo: Construction of illegal Israeli settlements continue to accelerate, further raising doubts over Israel’s willingness to reach a peace agreement. This view shows the construction site of Givat Zeev near Jerusalem — one of many Israeli settlements built illegally on Palestinian land. (Reuters)

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian and international protesters during a weekly demonstration in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, on January 6, 2012. The demonstrations, which have been taking place for almost two years, protest against the theft of Palestinian land in the form of the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish and a water spring belonging to Palestinians that Israeli settlers have occupied for themselves. (Getty Images)

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian and international protesters during a weekly demonstration in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, on January 6, 2012. The demonstrations, which have been taking place for almost two years, protest against the theft of Palestinian land in the form of the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish and a water spring belonging to Palestinians that Israeli settlers have occupied for themselves. (Getty Images)

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian and international protesters during a weekly demonstration in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, on December 23, 2011. The demonstrations, which have been taking place for almost two years, protest against the theft of Palestinian land in the form of the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish and a water spring belonging to Palestinians that Israeli settlers have occupied for themselves. (Getty Images)

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian and international protesters during a weekly demonstration in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, on December 23, 2011. The demonstrations, which have been taking place for almost two years, protest against the theft of Palestinian land in the form of the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish and a water spring belonging to Palestinians that Israeli settlers have occupied for themselves. (Getty Images)

Israeli soldiers push a Palestinian demonstrator dressed as Santa Claus during a protest against the illegal Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank village of al-Masara near Bethlehem, December 23, 2011. (Reuters)

Bed Bath & Beyond flash mob: Stop selling illegal Israeli settlement products

On Saturday, December 10, International Human Rights Day, a flash mob took over the wedding registry section of the Bed Bath & Beyond in Larkspur, California. The flash mob consisted of a mock wedding in which four brides committed to boycott illegal Israeli settlement products, namely Ahava cosmetics and SodaStream home carbonation systems, and local Reverend Dr. Walt Davis pronounced the brides “married to a life of peace and justice.” The Justice Voices choir sung a parody of “Ode to Joy” that asked Bed Bath & Beyond to deshelve these products. Store employees asked the flash mobbers to leave the store and called the police. No arrests were made. Caroling continued outside the store where the group received positive feedback from holiday shoppers.

mondoweiss.net

European members of Security Council condemn Israeli settlements, settler violence The four European Union members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly criticized Israel’s decision to speed up construction of settlements, which they termed a “wholly negative” development.” The ambassadors from Britain, France, Germany and Portugal issued a joint statement branding the Israeli settlements in Palestinian occupied territories and East Jerusalem as illegal under international law. “We call on the Israeli government to reverse these steps,” the statement said. “The viability of the Palestinian state that we want to see and the two-state solution that is essential for Israel’s long-term security are threatened by the systematic and deliberate expansion of settlements.” The statement, issued following the 15-country Security Council’s closed-door discussion on the situation in the Middle East, condemned Israeli settlers’ violence against the Palestinians, including the burning of the Nebi Akasha mosque in West Jerusalem and the Burqa mosque in the West Bank. It called on Israeli leaders to boldly demonstrate political will and leadership to break the impasse in negotiations with the Palestinians. It called on both Israelis and Palestinians to agree on a package of proposals to settle security and border issues in order to advance negotiations toward ending the conflict. The four countries reiterated support for the creation of a “sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian state living in peace and security side by side with Israel.” Israel’s UN ambassador Ron Prosor responded by saying on Tuesday that “while innocent citizens are being slaughtered in Syria, terrorist elements are operating freely in Gaza, UN forces are attacked in Lebanon and Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon – the Security Council is silent and paralyzed.” He added that “the main obstacle to peace was and remains the Palestinians’ demand to the right of return, and not recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.” Photo: A construction site in the illegal West Bank Jewish settlement of Givat Zeev, near Jerusalem. (Reuters)

European members of Security Council condemn Israeli settlements, settler violence

The four European Union members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly criticized Israel’s decision to speed up construction of settlements, which they termed a “wholly negative” development.”

The ambassadors from Britain, France, Germany and Portugal issued a joint statement branding the Israeli settlements in Palestinian occupied territories and East Jerusalem as illegal under international law.

“We call on the Israeli government to reverse these steps,” the statement said. “The viability of the Palestinian state that we want to see and the two-state solution that is essential for Israel’s long-term security are threatened by the systematic and deliberate expansion of settlements.”

The statement, issued following the 15-country Security Council’s closed-door discussion on the situation in the Middle East, condemned Israeli settlers’ violence against the Palestinians, including the burning of the Nebi Akasha mosque in West Jerusalem and the Burqa mosque in the West Bank.

It called on Israeli leaders to boldly demonstrate political will and leadership to break the impasse in negotiations with the Palestinians. It called on both Israelis and Palestinians to agree on a package of proposals to settle security and border issues in order to advance negotiations toward ending the conflict.

The four countries reiterated support for the creation of a “sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian state living in peace and security side by side with Israel.”

Israel’s UN ambassador Ron Prosor responded by saying on Tuesday that “while innocent citizens are being slaughtered in Syria, terrorist elements are operating freely in Gaza, UN forces are attacked in Lebanon and Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon – the Security Council is silent and paralyzed.” He added that “the main obstacle to peace was and remains the Palestinians’ demand to the right of return, and not recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.”

Photo: A construction site in the illegal West Bank Jewish settlement of Givat Zeev, near Jerusalem. (Reuters)

haaretz.com

Israeli soldiers drag away a Palestinian farmer from his own territory after he tried to prevent bulldozers from starting work on his farm land which is due to be levelled in order to build a section of the illegal Israeli separation barrier and expand the nearby Israeli settlement of Atarot, also illegal under international law, December 4, 2011. (Getty Images)