Experts: Applying Israeli law in West Bank 'legalises occupation'

The latest Israeli decision to apply Israeli law in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank “legalises occupation and reinforces Israeli racial and religious conditions”, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The remarks were made by Palestinian experts during a workshop organised by the Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR), a NGO in Ramallah, yesterday.

On November 9, an Israeli ministerial committee of 10 members voted with a majority of six to four in favour of implementing Israeli law on illegal settlements. The decision is being prepared to be proposed to the Knesset for approval soon.

Mohanad Mustafa, MADAR researcher, said that this decision is based on the Oslo agreement division of the West Bank, which stipulates that Area C, 60 per cent of the West Bank area, remained under Israeli control.

“This temporary division should have led to the establishment to the Palestinian state by the gradual stripping of Israeli control over this area,” Mustafa said. He noted that around 100,000 Palestinians live in this area; while around 350,000 illegal Israeli settlers are living there.

He said that Israel is following a three-step plan to implement its law in this area: intensifying settlements to make a Jewish majority, settlement annexation and applying its laws which legalises these settlements. He noted that the Israeli law does not include the establishment of a Palestine state.

Meanwhile, Palestinian lawyer working for MADAR said that applying Israeli law in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank is a kind of racial regime that is applying two laws in one geographic region. “This contradicts international laws,” he said.