Mike Johnson, the highest legislator in the USA Congress, has visited an unlawful settlement within the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from Palestinians.
The Palestinian Overseas Ministry known as the journey by the speaker of the US Home of Representatives on Monday a “blatant violation of worldwide regulation”.
Johnson, who’s subsequent in line for the US presidency after the president and vp, is the highest-ranking US official to go to a West Financial institution Israeli settlement.
His journey comes amid escalating settler violence in opposition to Palestinian communities that killed two US citizens in July.
The Israeli navy has additionally been intensifying its lethal raids, dwelling demolitions and displacement campaigns within the West Financial institution because it carries out its brutal assault and blockade on Gaza.
Johnson’s go to contradicts Arab and US efforts to “finish the cycle of violence” in addition to Washington’s public stance in opposition to settlers’ “aggressions”, the Palestinian Overseas Ministry mentioned.
“The ministry affirms that every one settlement exercise is invalid and unlawful and undermines the chance to implement the two-state resolution and obtain peace,” it added.
Based on Israeli media experiences, Johnson visited the settlement of Ariel, north of Ramallah, on Monday.
“Judea and Samaria are the entrance strains of the state of Israel and should stay an integral a part of it,” Johnson was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Publish newspaper, utilizing a biblical title for the West Financial institution.
“Even when the world thinks in any other case, we stand with you.”
The Home speaker’s feedback look like in reference to latest strikes by some Western international locations – together with shut allies of the US and Israel – to recognise a Palestinian state.
‘Unlawful beneath worldwide regulation’
Israeli settlements within the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem are unlawful beneath worldwide regulation. The Worldwide Court docket of Justice, the highest United Nations tribunal, reaffirmed that position final 12 months, saying that Israel’s presence within the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and should finish “as quickly as potential”.
Requested about Johnson’s go to, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq advised reporters on Monday: “Our standpoint on the settlements, as you realize, is that they’re unlawful beneath worldwide regulation.”
Israel captured the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem in 1967, and annexed your complete holy metropolis in 1980.
Successive Israeli governments have been constructing Jewish-only settlements within the West Financial institution on land that might be the house of a Palestinian state if a two-state resolution have been to materialise.
Lots of of 1000’s of Israeli settlers now stay within the occupied West Financial institution.
The Fourth Geneva Conference, to which Israel is a signatory, bans the occupying energy from transferring “elements of its personal civilian inhabitants into the territory it occupies”.
Whereas the Oslo Accords granted the Palestinian Authority some municipal powers over elements of the West Financial institution, your complete space stays beneath full Israeli safety management.
Israel additionally controls the airspace and ports of entry within the territory.
Israeli settlers within the West Financial institution have full citizenship rights, whereas Palestinians stay beneath Israel’s navy rule, the place they are often detained indefinitely with out expenses.
Main rights teams have accused Israel of imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians.
‘It’s a matter of religion for us’
For many years, the US has publicly rejected West Financial institution settlements and known as for a two-state resolution regardless of offering Israel with billions of {dollars} in navy assist.
Nevertheless, US President Donald Trump has taken US coverage additional in favour of Israel, refusing to criticise settlement growth or decide to backing a Palestinian state.
Many Republicans, in the meantime, have lengthy expressed assist for Israel from a theological perspective, arguing that it’s a Christian spiritual responsibility to again the US ally.
“Our prayer is that America will all the time stand with Israel. We pray for the preservation and the peace of Jerusalem. That’s what scripture tells us to do. It’s a matter of religion for us,” Johnson mentioned on Sunday throughout a go to to the Western Wall.
In a social media put up, Marc Zell, chair of the US Republicans Abroad Israel, cited Johnson as saying on Monday that the mountains of the West Financial institution are “the rightful property of the Jewish Folks”.
