The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, addressed the European Parliament Delegation on Relations with Palestine on the subject of the passing of Ireland's Annexation Motion.
 

Following is the full text of the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid speech:

Chair of the Delegation for the relation with Palestine Deputies, members of the committee Senator F Black, deputy J Brady, Dr Yara Hawari I have the honour to be with you today to brief about the annexation motion passed by the Dáil last month.

Last summer, Israel, the occupying Power said it would "suspend" its annexation schemes. These words never fooled us Palestinians or the Irish people.

De facto annexation of Palestinian lands is an ongoing practice. Once Palestinian land is seized or confiscated it is immediately considered to be de facto annexed. Likewise all the stolen lands that the settlements were built on, in grave violation of international law.

Even as the international community applauded the so-called suspension of annexation, Israel proceeded to advance measures for the integration of illegal settlements in preparation for full-fledged annexation. Israel’s acceleration of settlement expansion is further proof of its annexationist aims to control the maximum amount of Palestinian land with minimum number of Palestinians.

The annexation motion that was passed by the Irish Dáil and the unanimous support it garnered across the political spectrum in Ireland sent a strong message across Europe and the international community that Ireland will always stand up for its commitments to protect the human rights and to upholding of international law, particularly its obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and sets an example to other states to uphold their obligations and ensure accountability for breaches of those laws.

This landmark decision represents the first time that an EU country has broken the consensus and truthfully called out the occupation of Palestinian territory. It was a just and ethical decision by the representatives of the people of Ireland.

Another motion passed by local authorities in Dublin last week adopted a policy of not using any goods or services from illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. This motion is commendable and highly valued. These actions are giving hope and comfort to our people that political and peaceful means of ending the illegal occupation are possible.

While the international community continue to support the two-state solution, but fail to hold Israel accountable, the new Israeli PM Bennet doubled-down on his anti-Palestinian rhetoric and occupation-entrenching views proclaiming that the new government would "strengthen settlements across the whole of the land of Israel." It seems he will continue the Israeli government practice of governing without respect for international law or the international community.

The most recent flagrant breach of the Geneva convention is taking place in a village called "Beita" in Southern Nablus in the west bank. Beita illustrates the ongoing colonization and the de facto annexation policies that Israel the occupying power insist to pursue.

Villagers protesting at the seizure of their lands and water resources are being violently subjugated and having their crops destroyed.

40 settlers homes were built illegally on a stolen land of Beita village. Aveitar outpost is a real reflection of the de facto occupation and annexation.

There is no respect for the principle of justice There is no respect for international law!!! The Palestinians went along with the great compromise on 1967 borders according to the UN resolution 242 and 337 for the remaining of 22% of Historic Palestine. The occupation power continues to carry on its policies to control the vast majority of the West bank in blatant violation of international law. The number of settlers living in Jewish-only colonial settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law has jumped to over 700,000 and colonial settlement expansion has tripled since the signing of Oslo Accords in 1993.

250 illegal settlements were built on stolen Palestinian land Do you think that condemnation statements will alter the illegal Israeli colonization policies and force Israel the occupying power to respect the international law and retract its policies and accept the two-state solution as per the state of Palestine on 1967 borders??!!!! I might leave this question to you to think about it.

I also would like to draw your attention to State-sponsored settler violence, which has also intensified as armed settlers are rampaging throughout the occupied West Bank, spreading terror and attacking Palestinians while enjoying the unconditional protection of the Israeli Occupation Forces.

The intensity of violent and racist attacks by Israeli occupying forces and mobs of extremists against Palestinian civilians has become rampant as the lack of accountability emboldens such crimes, aggravating already-high tensions and portending further deterioration and destabilization of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Despite the international outcry about the looming threat of the expulsion of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods of occupied East Jerusalem the Israel’s forced displacement and ethnic cleansing drive in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues apace.

It is not only a threat. It became a reality this week as Nidal al Rajabi lost his butchery as the Israeli occupation demolished it yesterday. An additional 1500 family members are in actual danger of expulsion in Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah.

This is what ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from East Jerusalem means.

Before I conclude, I would like to reiterate our sincere gratitude to Sinn Fein who submitted the motion, all Irish political parties and parliamentarians who supported it and voted in favour as well as the collaborative approach of civil society organisations such as Sadaka, Christian Aid, ICTU and Trócaire who were united in their goal of upholding the human rights of Palestinians. The work behind the scenes from committed individuals such as Senator Frances Black and Dr Susan Power has been instrumental in achieving progress on justice for Palestinians and in advancing the motion. we owe them our thanks.

Conclusion: The international community and particularly the EU should offer stronger words against Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian lands. Silence and inaction have protected the oppressor for too long.

The international community must acknowledge that the cycle of repeated statements and condemnations does not correspond with upholding its responsibilities.

Taking concrete measures is the only way to hold Israel responsible and to give up its occupation of Palestine. Palestinians deserve nothing less than justice and freedom in our own sovereign state, and it is within our grasp with the political will of our allies in the international community.