By Lloyd Rabaya
The proposed annexation of the West Bank by Israel before the Knesset recesses at the end of the month has drawn a strong rebuke from Dr. Tamer Almassri, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Almassri asserted that such a move constitutes an integral part of Israel’s ongoing act of genocide against the Palestinian people.
In a statement, Almassri warned that should the annexation proceed, Israel would unilaterally declare sovereignty over vast swathes of Palestinian territory, solidifying its control over illegal settlements.
He described this as a dangerous attempt to entrench the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territories, directly threatening to destroy the identity and heritage of the Palestinian state.
The Ambassador reiterated that the proposed annexation represents a dangerous continuation of Israel’s systematic violation of international law and a direct denial of the fundamental rights of sovereignty and self-determination for Palestinians.
He emphasized that annexation, or the acquisition of territory through the use or threat of force, is unequivocally prohibited under international law.
Such an act, he added, constitutes a crime falling under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and poses a severe threat to global peace and security.
Almassri highlighted that over the years, Israel has pursued the occupation of numerous parts of Palestinian territory, resulting in over 270 colonies now housing 750,000 Israeli settlers.
This historical context, he suggested, underscores the gravity of the potential annexation.