The United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel’s position is illegal under international law because of its permanence and its government’s de facto annexation policy.
A wartime invasion, the report added, is a temporary situation and does not deprive the occupied country of its sovereign status.
It further claimed that recent statements by Secretary-General António Guterres and numerous member states had made it clear that any attempt to unilaterally annex the territory of one state by another constituted a violation of international law and was null and void.
“Last week, 143 member states, including Israel, voted in favor of a General Assembly resolution reaffirming this. Unless it is applied universally, including to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, this fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter will become meaningless,” said Commission President Navi Pillay.
For their report, the commissioners reviewed Israel’s policies and actions to maintain the occupation and annexation of parts of Palestinian territory.
They focused on how that country sustains and advances the so-called “Israeli settlement enterprise,” and also discussed statements by officials indicating intentions to maintain permanent control of the country in violation of international law.
The commission then concluded that by continuing to occupy the territory by force, Israel accepted international responsibility and remained guilty of violating the rights of the Palestinians, both individually and as a whole.
It also reviewed Israel’s expropriation and exploitation of land and natural resources, and its restrictive zoning policy in the West Bank.
The land is often confiscated for military purposes but later used for settlement construction, the report says.
The text also addressed Israeli policies affecting the lives of Palestinians.
“As a result of the erosion of economic, social and cultural rights, there is so much silent damage and psychological trauma that may not be immediately apparent. These debilitating processes have serious short- and long-term consequences and need to be addressed urgently,” said Commissioner Miloon Kothari.
The report found that some of the Israeli government’s policies and actions could constitute “elements” of crimes under international criminal law, including the war crime of transferring part of its civilian population to occupied territory.
jcm/ifs