ISRAEL will ignite the region with its illegal annexation plan and further intensify conflicts, warned Palestine’s envoy in Bahrain.
Israel’s formal plan to annex part of the occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank is expected to begin from today.
The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war, and both countries assert their rights.
According to international law, annexation is forbidden and is a term used to describe when a state unilaterally proclaims its sovereignty over other territories.
The United Nations’ top human rights official, Michelle Bachelet, this week urged Israel to scrap its plans entirely, saying: ‘Annexation is illegal. Period’.
Palestinian Ambassador to Bahrain Taha Abdul Qader said yesterday that the annexation plan is an explicit challenge to international resolutions and treaties.
He also urged countries in the Arab world and beyond to rally to stop the illegal plan and occupation.
“The Israeli occupation – backed by the unjust and explicitly biased American administration – declared its serious intention to implement the decision to annex the rest of our Palestinian land in the West Bank under the eyes of the free world,” he said in a statement.
“This is a clear and explicit challenge to international resolutions, charters and treaties, which undermines any opportunity to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
“This move threatens to ignite the region with a barrel of explosive powder, and harm peace and security in the region and the world.”
The ambassador also called for sanctions to be imposed on Israel for its aggressive actions, stressing the Palestinian cause remains a priority for Gulf and Arab states.
“We thank the Kingdom of Bahrain and its wise leadership, headed by His Majesty King Hamad, for its position in support of the Palestinian issue in international and regional forums,” added Mr Abdul Qader.
“Especially Bahrain voting in favour of adopting Palestine resolutions in the Human Rights Council during the 43rd session that was held in Geneva.”
He also thanked Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani for conveying Bahrain’s permanent stance on the Palestinian cause.
During a meeting last week at the ministerial level for donors to United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Dr Al Zayani said that Bahrain was and still is a supporter of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights in establishing an independent state on its land and its capital, East Jerusalem, based on the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.
There are about 5,000 Palestinians living in Bahrain, which like other Gulf countries has no diplomatic ties with Israel.
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