[Peace] Gush Shalom: An international consensus - settlements are illegal and harmful

[Robert Naiman]

*Gush Shalom: An international consensus  - settlements are illegal and
harmful*



*At the Security Council, a rare international consensus was achieved.  It
was  clearly and unequivocally resolved that the establishment of
settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is an impermissible
act, contrary to International Law,  and that the State of Israel must
cease immediately and completely construction and expansion of settlements.
The resolution was adopted by the votes of all Security Council Members,
represent all parts of the Earth, First World and Third World alike -
Europe and North America, South America and Africa and Asia, as well as
Australia and New Zealand (which itself shared in presenting the resolution
to the vote). There was not a single country in the entire world to speak
in favor of continuing the settlement enterprise and theft of Palestinian
lands.*



*The achievement of this consensus was made possible thanks to President
Obama's decision to cease the policy of automatic veto. It was this
automatic veto which had led the Government of Israel to live in a virtual
reality and continue plunging us deeper into the abyss of occupation,
oppression and the eternal conflict with the Palestinians. It is well Obama
broke the veto policy, even if at his last moment in office.*



*As is well known, within a month Donald Trump is about to enter the White
House. Trump’s strident voice on the subject of the settlements was already
heard out of the mouth of the manifestly undiplomatic Ambassador to Israel
which he appointed. The Israeli cabinet ministers who act as if the Messiah
has come would be well-advised to be more cautious. Linking up the future
of the State of Israel to a man who by all indications will be one of the
most controversial presidents in US history is a short-sighted and highly
dangerous policy. Trump will come, cause damage and disappear. Israel will
remain facing the worldwide opposition to the settlements.*



*Full text of the resolution*

*Contact: Adam Keller, Gush Shalom +972-(0)54-2340749 <+972%2054-234-0749>*







*The full text of the United Nations anti-settlement resolution*

24/12/16



*14 Delegations in Favour of Resolution 2334 (2016) as United States
Abstains*



“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980),
1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), and 1850 (2008),

“Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, and reaffirming, inter alia, the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force,

“Reaffirming the obligation of Israel, the occupying Power, to abide
scrupulously by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9
July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,

“Condemning all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition,
character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967,
including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia, the construction and
expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of
land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in
violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions,

“Expressing grave concern that continuing Israeli settlement activities are
dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-State solution based on
the 1967 lines,

“Recalling the obligation under the Quartet Roadmap, endorsed by its
resolution 1515 (2003), for a freeze by Israel of all settlement activity,
including “natural growth”, and the dismantlement of all settlement
outposts erected since March 2001,

“Recalling also the obligation under the Quartet roadmap for the
Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations
aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist
capabilities, including the confiscation of illegal weapons,

“Condemning all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of
terror, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction,

“Reiterating its vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and
Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders,

“Stressing that the status quo is not sustainable and that significant
steps, consistent with the transition contemplated by prior agreements, are
urgently needed in order to (i) stabilize the situation and to reverse
negative trends on the ground, which are steadily eroding the two-State
solution and entrenching a one-State reality, and (ii) to create the
conditions for successful final status negotiations and for advancing the
two-State solution through those negotiations and on the ground,

“1. Reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no
legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law
and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a
just, lasting and comprehensive peace;

“2. Reiterates its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all
settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East
Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this
regard;

“3. Underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967
lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the
parties through negotiations;

“4. Stresses that the cessation of all Israeli settlement activities is
essential for salvaging the two-State solution, and calls for affirmative
steps to be taken immediately to reverse the negative trends on the ground
that are imperilling the two-State solution;

“5. Calls upon all States, bearing in mind paragraph 1 of this resolution,
to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the
State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;

“6. Calls for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against
civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and
destruction, calls for accountability in this regard, and calls for
compliance with obligations under international law for the strengthening
of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security
coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism;

“7. Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law,
including international humanitarian law, and their previous agreements and
obligations, to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative
actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, with the aim, inter alia, of
de-escalating the situation on the ground, rebuilding trust and confidence,
demonstrating through policies and actions a genuine commitment to the
two-State solution, and creating the conditions necessary for promoting
peace;

“8. Calls upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of
peace and security, to exert collective efforts to launch credible
negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process
and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21
September 2010;

“9. Urges in this regard the intensification and acceleration of
international and regional diplomatic efforts and support aimed at
achieving, without delay a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the
Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the
Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap and an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967; and underscores in this regard the
importance of the ongoing efforts to advance the Arab Peace Initiative, the
initiative of France for the convening of an international peace
conference, the recent efforts of the Quartet, as well as the efforts of
Egypt and the Russian Federation;

“10. Confirms its determination to support the parties throughout the
negotiations and in the implementation of an agreement;

“11. Reaffirms its determination to examine practical ways and means to
secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;

“12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three
months on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution;

“13. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”
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