US President Trump‘s surrender to Israel’s territorial ambitions reveals contempt for international law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention. Trump’s announcement contradicts even the most recent Security Council Resolution, UNSCR 2334 of December 2016. Israel’s control of East Jerusalem, including the Old City, is illegal because under international law, an Occupying power does not have sovereignty over foreign territory it militarily occupies.
Israel only allows the native Palestinian population in Jerusalem what it calls ‘permanent residency’ status, whereas Israeli settlers enjoy citizenship. Since the 1967 invasion, Israel has been quietly imposing impossible conditions upon the Palestinians to make it near impossible for them to maintain their residency. While Israel continues to subsidise its illegal settlement population, Palestinians are almost always refused building permits. The purpose is obvious.
How times have changed
In 1967, when laws to annex East Jerusalem were enacted, Israel tried to hide the move from the international community, fearing a negative response. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz describes the duplicity – a day prior to the Knesset debate on the proposals, a telegram was sent to Israeliambassadors guiding them on how to deal with the issue: “In view of the situation in the [UN] assembly, our public diplomacy [hasbara, in the Hebrew original] must stress the law regarding the holy sites and conceal the first two.”
On 9 September 2016, US State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau stated, in response to a question that, “The undisputed fact is that already this year, thousands of settlement units have been advanced for Israelis in the West Bank, illegal outposts and unauthorised settlement units have been retroactively legalised, more West Bank land has been seized for exclusive Israeli use, and there has been a dramatic escalation of demolitions resulting in over 700 Palestinian structures destroyed, displacing more than 1,000 Palestinians. As we’ve said many times before, this does raise real questions about Israel’s long-term intentions in the West Bank.”
Today, US President Trump has united with the Zionist Israel Lobby and Christian fundamentalists. No other country in the world recognises Israel’s ownership of Jerusalem, or its attempts to change the geography and demographic character of the city. By his action over Jerusalem, Trump has declared himself an enemy of justice and imperilled us all. At this critical moment, New Zealand must stand by its principles and affirm, unequivocally, its continued support for UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
The fourth Geneva Convention relates to the protection of civilians during war. So what on earth are you talking about?
The following countries already have their embassies in Jerusalem:
Belgium
France
Greece
The Vatican
Italy
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
UK
and several more are represented there by honorary consuls
The Vatican Embassy address is:
Vatican Apostolic Nunciature
1 Netiv Hamazalot
86037 Old Jaffa
Tel Aviv
Israel
https://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy20755/
There are currently over 86 embassies in Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area (apart from honorary consulates). Some states did have embassies in Jerusalem but all are now in Tel Aviv. Pope Francis opposes Trumps Embassy move and has expressed a concern that such a move would further destabilise the Middle East. The Pope urges respect for “the status quo of the city in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.” The Vatican has consistently called for a special status for Jerusalem, particularly its Old City, in order to protect and guarantee access to the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The internationally unsettled status of Jerusalem and its central importance to Jews, Muslims and Christians explains why, while recognising the state of Israel, no nation has its embassy in the holy city see http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2017/pope-concerned-by-us-move-to-recognize-jerusalem-as-israels-capital.cfm. No other country in the world recognises Israel’s ownership of Jerusalem, or its attempts to change the geography and demographic character of the city.
They’re consulates , regarded as diplomatic missions to Jerusalem as corpus separatum
Those countries have separate embassies in Tel Aviv
This looks like a timely opportunity to discuss the similarity of the State of Israel to Nazi Germany.
What makes Nazi Germany particularly abhorent is its ethnic cleansing ,its belligerent attacks on other countries ,its racist master race ideology, its militarist police force which is often indistinguishable from the army, the lack of Democracy , the paraphanalia ie rampant flag waving which is indicative of a need to create a super nationalism.Coupled with this is a pervasive propaganda brainwashing of its population to convince them of the rightiousness of their actions which are obviously criminal .
Israel ticks all the boxes in this respect.They have perpertrated ethnic cleansing on the Palestinian population, gradually moving them from their homes to ethnic ghettos which are completely controlled by the Israelis in a similar way to what the Nazis did in the Warsaw Ghetto in World War 2 ,and slaughtered thousands of them..The Israeli militaristic Police and army harass continually the Palestinians at border checkpoints.There is a complete lack of democracy for Palestinians- rights are for Jews only.It is self described as a Jewish state.Like the Nazis who thought of themselves as being a special people- a master race, the Israeli Zionists describe themselves as being a special people, authorized by God to populate the land of Israel, and indeed a considerable slice of the middle East.Israeli Zionists revel in their love affair with their Star of David flag, reminiscent of the Nazis with their Swastika!
As for belligerent military attacks on other countries we have two invasions of Lebanon, constant attacks on Syria, including the theft of the Golan Heights in breach of International law. We have the Stuxnet cyber attack on Iran. We have the Israeli complicity in the massacre of the Palestinian refugees in Jordan.We have the complicity of Israel in aiding and abetting Isis.
What we have here is a rogue state, a state engaged in and sponsoring terrorism.
So, a similarity between Nazi Germany and Israel, what do you think!!!
The Jewish people experienced a tragic long diaspora, which Nazi Germany didn’t, and the masters of Nazi Germany never identified with a god, by and large they thought God was dead – their belief in their own superiority claimed no divine origin- it was irrelevant to any belief in super men.
Trump’s support base among evangelical fundamentalist Christians believe that ‘God’ gave Jerusalem to the Jewish people, and he has solidified himself with that particular domestic group by appearing to be giving it back again – so Trump is the god-figure in this unholy chaos.
Yes, Lesley, all so true, but I doubt that Trump ‘surrendered’ to Israel’s government’s wishes, he willfully embraced it.
He went on about it during his presidential campaign, mentioning it in various speeches to his often passionate evangelical Christian supporters.
Also has a an open ear towards his daughter, a converted Jew, and her Jewish husband, Mr Kushner, who has been involved in business or fund raising activities that supported and encouraged settlements or ‘colonies’ in the Occupied Territories.
http://www.jpost.com/American-Politics/Kushner-did-not-disclose-heading-of-foundation-that-funded-settlement-projects-517034
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-kushner/for-hardline-west-bank-settlers-jared-kushners-their-man-idUSKBN15G4W2
Those who know the Trump family will not be one bit surprised about Donald Trumps decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, and to acknowledge Jerusalem as the ‘capital’ of Israel, in contravention of UN resolutions and international law:
http://www.newsweek.com/jared-kushner-disclosure-form-west-bank-settlements-israel-white-house-729290
His daughter, who he listens to, and her husband, an Orthodox Jew, with Zionist connections, are firmly pro Israel, and appear to have business and other interests there.
Those that supported Trump during the last US election campaign were blind, to some degree, supporting one who is no better than the other corporate criminals that rule the US business sectors and with that most of the country. They follow their vested interests all the times.
Hence Trump also brought in tax ‘reforms’ benefiting the rich and powerful more than anyone else, so that the Republicans can rely on generous donations for the coming Mid Term Elections.
A bit of a disappointing response to Trump’s actions, by our leadership, I must say:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/jacinda-ardern-critical-trumps-recognition-jerusalem-israels-capital-saying-make-things-difficult
It surely will make things more than ‘difficult’, I reckon.
Comments are closed.