Mike Johnson, the highest legislator in the US Congress, has visited an unlawful settlement within the occupied West Financial institution, drawing condemnation from Palestinians.
The Palestinian Overseas Ministry referred to 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 vice-president, 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 residents in July.
The Israeli navy has additionally been intensifying its lethal raids, residence 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 stated.
“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 stories, Johnson visited the settlement of Ariel, north of Ramallah, on Monday.
“Judea and Samaria are the entrance traces of the state of Israel and should stay an integral a part of it,” Johnson was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Submit 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 seem like in reference to latest strikes by some Western nations – together with shut allies of the US and Israel – to recognise a Palestinian state.
‘Unlawful below worldwide regulation’
Israeli settlements within the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem are unlawful below worldwide regulation. The Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, the highest United Nations tribunal, reaffirmed that place final yr, saying that Israel’s presence within the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and should finish “as quickly as attainable”.
Requested about Johnson’s go to, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq advised reporters on Monday: “Our standpoint on the settlements, as you recognize, is that they’re unlawful below worldwide regulation.”
Israel captured the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem in 1967, and annexed all the 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 had been to materialise.
Tons of of hundreds of Israeli settlers now dwell 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, all the space stays below 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 dwell below Israel’s navy rule, the place they are often detained indefinitely with out fees.
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 referred to as for a two-state resolution regardless of offering Israel with billions of {dollars} in navy support.
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 non secular 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 stated on Sunday throughout a go to to the Western Wall.
In a social media submit, 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”.
