Geneva Convention summit on Palestine to go ahead despite US, Israeli pressure

The contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention will hold a special meeting on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip later this month, despite pressure by the U.S. and Israel.

The Swiss government will convene the relevant state parties on 17 December, for an ambassadorial-level conference which Israel is expected to boycott. The U.S., Canada and Australia may also stay away.

Last month it was reported that Israel and the U.S. were trying to dissuade the nearly 200 states that are party to the Fourth Geneva Convention from convening for the summit. Israeli officials even travelled several times to Bern and Geneva, but their efforts have proved unsuccessful.

According to Haaretz, Israel is still hoping to “lobby EU states to get as many as possible to boycott the conference.” The gathering is likely to “intensify international criticism of Israeli policy in the territories, particularly with regard to the settlements.”

The meeting takes place following President Abbas’ decision in April to sign, on behalf of Palestine, the Fourth Geneva Convention. Shortly after, an official request was made to urgently convene the convention signatories to discuss Israel’s occupation.

In 2001, the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention met in Geneva and condemned Israel’s “indiscriminate or disproportionate use of force and due to lack of respect for international humanitarian law.”

Israel is also a signatory to the convention, but, contrary to the overwhelming international legal consensus, denies its applicability to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.