‘Occupation of West Bank is permanent,’ Israeli MK says

Responding to the UN resolution requesting the ICJ to weigh in on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Israeli MK Zvika Fogel said on Sunday that “occupation of West Bank is permanent and Israel has the right to annex it.”

Speaking to the Israeli Radio 103FM, Fogel said: “I hope that Israel is able to defend its rights in the areas it has the right to annex and build settlements. I hope Israel is able to express this in the future.”

Replying to a question whether the occupation is permanent, Fogel, whose party is partner in the coalition government, said: “I cannot discuss facts. Until now, it is permanent.”

He added: “I want to continue extending Israeli sovereignty wherever I can. I recognise Israel’s right to impose its sovereignty in order to stop surrendering to nations, which never existed and appeared suddenly.”

On Friday, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli “annexation” and the “legal status of the occupation.”

The resolution, which is titled “Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories,” was proposed by the Palestinian Authority and passed by a vote of 87 in favour, 26 against and 53 abstentions.

Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, described the UN resolution as “despicable” and claimed that the “Jewish people are not occupiers of their land.”

READ: Israeli PM Lapid urges world leaders to prevent ICJ opinion on Israel’s occupation