Illegal Israeli Activity Intensifies After the Annapolis Conference
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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: Israel will continue building houses in East
Jerusalem |
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BPNIC Memo, March 2008
Illegal Israeli settlement
activity in and around occupied East Jerusalem has
intensified following the
Annapolis conference in November
2007.
The Israeli government, together with settler organizations
is working against the Brazilian vision supporting the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in re-launching
peace talks for a two state solution.
The international community has an obligation to prevent
Israel from carrying out any further settlement activity
throughout all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in
1967
Brazil, in preparation for the 2007 Annapolis conference,
and in support of the PLO to re-launch peace negotiations
with Israel, dispatched Foreign Minister Celso Amorim to
attend and deliver a document to endorse and encourage the
international community, that a Palestinian State must exist
and for the problems in the region to be definitely solved.
All Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory (OPT) is illegal, as it violates Article 49 of the
Fourth Geneva Convention, the prohibition against acquiring
territory by force, the Palestinian right of
self-determination, as well as UN Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338. The United Nations, the
International Court of Justice, and the overwhelming
majority of states share this view. Therefore, the
international community has an obligation to prevent Israel
from carrying out any further settlement activity throughout
all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in 1967;
including East Jerusalem, beginning with the
Adumim “bloc”, the E-1 Plan and the Adumim Wall.
A genuine settlement freeze, such as the one called for in
the Quartet Roadmap, would ensure that no further harm is
done to the two-state solution prior to actual negotiations.
Such a freeze should include an end to all:
- Settlement and settlement-related construction in
the OPT, especially in East Jerusalem, including the
Wall
- Government and private financing and incentives for
settlements and settlers
- Settlement planning and building permit and tender
issuance for new and existing settlements
- Land confiscations, home demolitions and other
property destruction, regardless of the pretext.
Brazilian leaders have in recent months began taking a
stronger stance in promoting the prospects for the two-state
solution
Brazilian leaders have in recent months through meetings of
which included Parliament Members and House Representatives
Vieira da Cunha, Aldo Rebelo and President of the
Brazil-Arab Countries Parliamentary Group, Nilson Mourão,
began taking a stronger stance in promoting the prospects
for the two-state solution.
The Brazilian Palestinian National Interest Committee
views that the colonial housing being constructed on
densely populated Palestinian neighborhoods in
East
Jerusalem, including the old city, are against the Brazilian
House Representatives endorsement of a two state solution,
and continues seeking ways for Brazil to help bring to a
standstill the Israeli colonial expansion in East Jerusalem,
which Palestinians want as a capital for their future state.
Basic Facts Summary
- The Israeli government continues to fragment
Palestinian neighborhoods in and around
East Jerusalem.
- The Israeli government restricts
Palestinian
development.
- The Israeli government
blocks Palestinian nationals
from access to the Old City.
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