European MPs have come together to oppose the illegal plan of Israel’s Prime Minister to annex part of the Palestinian West Bank, under Israeli military occupation since 1967. Convened by Stephen Kinnock MP, Co Chair of the Britain-Palestine All-Party Parliamentary Group, colleagues from France, Ireland, Belgium and the UK agreed to challenge and seek to deter this criminal act.
Below is the text of their statement, now open for signature by Parliamentary colleagues in Europe and the USA. If you would like your MP or parliamentarians to sign, then please send them this statement, encouraging them to do so. This statement will remain a live document.
Since the inaugural meeting from July, Members of Parliament from the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden have also signed. Members of the European Parliament from Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden have also signed.
No to Israeli annexation plans
We, the undersigned, share our deep concern at the threat of illegal Israeli annexation of part of the occupied Palestinian West Bank. Unilateral annexation of any part of the West Bank would be a grave breach of international law, and a further obstacle to achieving equal rights and self-determination for Palestinians. Annexation must not pass unchallenged.
We fully support our Parliamentary colleagues in Europe, the United States and Israel who have spoken out against annexation – particularly in the letter initiated by Avraham Burg, former Speaker of the Knesset, and signed by 1080 Parliamentarians across Europe. The letter states:
“A lasting solution to the conflict must meet the legitimate aspirations and security needs and guarantee equal rights of both Israelis and Palestinians… Acquisition of territory by force has no place in 2020 and must have commensurate consequences”.
We note with approval the statements of the European Union and of the Governments of Ireland, France, Sweden, Belgium and the United Kingdom that Israeli annexation would be a violation of international law and not be recognised.
In fulfilment of the right to self-determination of both the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples, we commend the decisive votes in our respective Parliaments in favour of recognition of the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel on pre-June 1967 borders, as a prerequisite for a comprehensive peace, ending the Occupation:
- United Kingdom – vote of the House of Commons, 13 October 2014
- Ireland – vote of the Seanad, 22 October 2014, and of the Dail, 10 December 2014
- France – vote of the Sénat, 11 December 2014, and of the Assemblée, 21 December 2014
- Belgium – vote of the House of Representatives, 5 February 2015.
This is a clear basis for further action by these Governments.
We recall the decision of the Government of Sweden on 30 October 2014 to recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel.
We considered commensurate consequences in the event of annexation. We agreed that Israel’s international standing, already harmed by systematic illegal acts of settlement construction, would be damaged very significantly by any act of annexation – and that Israel should not benefit economically from these acts.
We invite Parliamentarians elsewhere in Europe and in the United States to join a coalition to avert annexation and to preserve the prospect of Palestinian self-determination and equal rights for both peoples within a two-state framework: a secure, sovereign Palestine alongside a secure, sovereign Israel.
We will meet virtually as soon as required by developments on the ground.
Signed by
Members of National Parliaments
United Kingdom
House of Commons
Ian Blackford MP, Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) at Westminster
Crispin Blunt MP, Conservative Party
Steven Bonnar MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Alan Brown MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Richard Burden, former Labour Party MP
Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrats
Wendy Chamberlain MP, Liberal Democrats
Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrats
Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Martyn Day MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Allan Dorans MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Julie Elliott MP, Labour Party
Patrick Grady MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Neale Hanvey MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrats
Stephen Kinnock MP, Labour Party
Kenny MacAskill MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Seema Malhotra MP, Labour Party
Stuart McDonald MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Carol Monghan MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrats
Gavin Newlands MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
John Nicolson MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Brendan O'Hara MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Tommy Sheppard MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Andy Slaughter MP, Labour Party
Jamie Stone MP, Liberal Democrats
Owen Thompson MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Dr Philippa Whitford MP, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrats
House of Lords
Baroness Lindsay Northover, Liberal Democrats
Baroness Shas Sheehan, Liberal Democrats
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Conservative Party
Belgium
Malik Ben Achour MP, Parti Socialiste (PS)
Jean-Marc Delizée MP, Parti Socialiste (PS)
Els Van Hoof MP, Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V)
France
Jacques Maire, député, La République En Marche! (LREM)
Gilbert Roger, sénateur, Parti Socialiste (PS)
Gwendal Rouillard, député, La République En Marche! (LREM)
Ireland
Frances Black, Senator, Independent
Michael McDowell, Senator, Independent
Netherlands
Lilianne Ploumen MP, Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA)
Bram van Ojik MP, GorenLinks (GL)
Spain
Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)
Antonio Gómez-Reino Varela MP, Unidas Podemos
Lucía Muñoz Dalda MP, Unidas Podemos
Gerardo Pisarello Prados MP, Barcelona en Comú
Enrique Fernando Santiago Romero MP, Unidas Podemos
Roberto Uriarte Torrealday MP, Unidas Podemos
Spanish Senate (Senado de España)
Gorka Elejebarrieta Diaz, EH Bildu
Idurre Bideguren Gabantxo, EH Bildu
Mirella Cortès i Gès, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC)
Pilar González Modino, Adelante Andalucia
Jordi Martí i Deulofeu, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC)
Koldo Martínez Urionabarrenetxea, Geroa Bai
Carles Mulet Garcia, Coalició Compromís
Bernat Picornell Grenzner, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC)
Luke Uribe-Etxebarria Apalategi, Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV)
Vicenç Vidal Matas, Més per Mallorca
Sweden
Johan Büser MP, Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti (S/SAP)
Thomas Hammarberg MP, Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti (S/SAP)
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
Belgium
Maria Arena MEP, Parti Socialiste (S&Ds)
Croatia
Ivan Vilibor Sinčić MEP, Živi Zid (Non-aligned)
Czechia
Kateřina Konečná MEP, Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy (GUE/NGL)
Denmark
Margrete Auken MEP, Socialistisk Folkeparti (Greens/EFA)
Karen Melchior MEP, Det Radikale Venstre (Renew)
Kira Marie Peter-Hansen MEP, Socialistisk Folkeparti (Greens/EFA)
France
François Alfonsi MEP, Régions et Peuples Solidaires (Greens/EFA)
Yannick Jadot MEP, Europe Écologie (Greens/EFA)
Aurore Lalucq MEP, Place publique (S&Ds)
Younous Omarjee MEP, La France Insoumise (GUE/NGL)
Mounir Satouri MEP, Europe Écologie (Greens/EFA)
Salima Yenbou MEP, Europe Écologie (Greens/EFA)
Germany
Oezlem Demirel MEP, Die Linke (GUE/NGL)
Greece
Alexis Georgoulis MEP, Syriza (GUE/NGL)
Ireland
Barry Andrews MEP, Fianna Fáil (Renew)
Ciaran Cuffe MEP, Green Party (Greens/EFA)
Clare Daly MEP, Independents 4 Change (GUE/NGL)
Luke Ming Flanagan MEP, Independent (GUE/NGL)
Billy Kelleher MEP, Fianna Fáil (Renew)
Chris MacManus MEP, Sinn Fein (GUE/NGL)
Grace O'Sullivan MEP, Green Party (Greens/EFA)
Mick Wallace MEP, Independents 4 Change (GUE/NGL)
Italy
Brando Benifei MEP, Partito Democratico (S&Ds)
Fabio Massimo Castaldo MEP, Movimento 5 Stelle (Non-aligned)
Ignazio Corrao MEP, Movimento 5 Stelle (Non-aligned)
Rosa D'Amato MEP, Movimento 5 Stelle (Non-aligned)
Giuliano Pisapia MEP, Independent (S&Ds)
Malta
Alfred Sant MEP, Partit Laburista (S&Ds)
Portugal
José Gusmão MEP, Bloco Esqierda (GUE/NGL)
Marisa Matias MEP, Bloco Esqierda (GUE/NGL)
Isabel Santos MEP, Partido Socialista (S&Ds)
Slovenia
Milan Brglez MEP, Socialni demokrati (S&Ds)
Irena Joveva MEP, Lista Marjana Šarca (Renew)
Spain
Pernando Barrena Arza MEP, EH Bildu (GUE/NGL)
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica MEP, Partido Nacionalista Vasco (Renew)
Antoni Comín i Oliveres MEP, Junts per Catalunya - Lliures per Europa (Non-aligned)
Javier Nart MEP, Independiente (Renew)
Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó MEP, Junts per Catalunya - Lliures per Europa (Non-aligned)
Diana Riba i Giner MEP, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Greens/EFA)
Jordi Solé i Ferrando MEP, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Greens/EFA)
Miguel Urbán Crespo MEP, Anticapitalistas (GUE/NGL)
Ernest Urtasun Domenech MEP, Catalunya en Comú (Greens/EFA)
Idoia Villanueva Ruiz MEP, Podemos (GUE/NGL)
Sweden
Malin Björk MEP, Vänsterpartiet (GUE/NGL)
Evin Incir MEP, Arbetarepartiet- Socialdemokraterna (Renew)
