The Legal Status of the Territories Beyond the Green Line (video)

Avi Bell is an Israeli Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law and at Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Law, as well as a Senior Fellow at the Kohelet Policy Forum.

From that estimable organisation UK Lawyers for Israel comes this video, not quite one hour long,  of the professor in conversation with Oxford-educated London barrister Natasha Hausdorf, who has a LLM from Tel Aviv University in the areas of international law and the law of armed conflict.

Using illustrative matter to explain his points, Professor Bell enlightens us on the topic "Israel, Territory and International Law".

https://youtu.be/WARqkJp_IxU

David Singer: PLO Opens Door to Jordan Returning to Judea and Samaria

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

Advancing an end to the 100-years-old Jewish-Arab conflict has becomea miraculous possibility since the formation of an Israeli Government of National Unity just 7 days ago.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately gave the lie to mounting international opposition claiming that Israel’s intention to restore Jewish sovereignty in 30% of Judea and Samaria amounted to “West Bank annexation”:

“It’s time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism. These territories are where the Jewish nation was born and grew.This will not distance us from peace, it will bring us closer.”

The Jewish People’s right to reconstitute its ancient Jewish National Home in Judea and Samaria – the biblical heartland of the Jewish People  – after 3000 years – had been recognized by the international community in:

• 1920: The San Remo Resolution and the Treaty of Sevres

• 1922: The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine

• 1945: Article 80 United Nations Charter

Attempts by that international community to deny such vested legal rights in the Jewish People over the past 53 years had exacerbated the long-running conflict – contributing materially to it failing to be resolved.

Netanyahu had no compunction in calling out and exposing the continuing travesty of justice that these current protestations represented.

However the roadblock jamming any progress in resolving the conflictwas suddenly cleared when days later PLO President Mahmoud Abbas announced:

"The Israeli occupation authority, as of today, has to shoulder all responsibilities and obligations in front of the international community as an occupying power over the territory of the occupied state of Palestine, with all its consequences and repercussions based on international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which holds the occupying power responsible for the protection of the civilian population under occupation and their property, criminalizes collective punishment, bans theft of resources, appropriation and annexation of land, bans forced transfer of the population of the occupied territory and bans transfer of the population of the occupying state (the colonialists) to the land it occupies, which all are grave violations and war crimes"

Stripped of the lies and false and deceptive claims contained in this statement that have formed part and parcel of the PLO’s propaganda arsenal since its formation in 1964 – Abbas’s message was clear: Abbas was now turning over responsibility for Judea and Samaria to Israel.

The PLO had never claimed “regional sovereignty over the West Bank in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” or “on the Gaza Strip” as article 24 of its founding 1964 Charter declared. Its activities were to be “on the national popular level in the liberational, organizational, political and financial fields”.

This PLO position only changed in 1968 after Jordan – having occupied Judea and Samaria between 1950 and 1967 driving out every Jew living there – lost that territory to Israel in the Six Day War. Gaining sovereignty in 100% of Judea and Samaria by the creation of another Arab State became the focus of the PLO from 1968.

President Trump’s peace plan offeringthe PLO possibly 70% of Judea and Samaria plus Gaza (see map below) has been rejected by the PLO.

Abbas –  in turning over responsibility for Judea and Samaria to Israel  – has opened the door to Jordan replacing the PLO as Israel’s negotiating partner.Successful negotiations between Jordan and Israel could see Jordan annexing part of Judea and Samaria, Jordanian citizenship being restored for the Arab residents as existed between 1950 and 1988 and a possible end to the Jewish-Arab conflict.
King Abdullah – expect a call from President Trump.

Author’s note: The cartoon –commissioned exclusively for this article —is by YaakovKirschen aka “Dry Bones” –one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators –whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog.

Nasties, Nitwits & Nutjobs (videos)

The hypocrisy of the anti-Israel anti-patriarchy "pro-Palestinian" Western feministas knows few or no bounds, so I suppose they're more than comfortable with this:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOP-MdCsMk8

How about this indoctrination of young minds by the fiends of Hamas, though? Yes, the video's deveral years old, but what was taught in it presumably corrupted some youngsters, who in turn will  transmit what was learned to their own some day. (Warning: distressing scenes of cruelty to animals, despite that much-repeated story of The Prophet loving cats so much that he once cut off his sleeve rather than disrurb a sleeping feline).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ExZVimjST8

Meanwhile, catch the UK-based Neturei Karta nut Elhanan Beck propagandising for the enemy on Al Quds Day this year:

Another Neturei Karta nut:

 Much more re this year's Al Quds Day in lockdown on David Collier's blog here

For the Biased ABC, "Professor Sprout" Spouts her Leftist Bile

She took out Australian citizenship in 2013, did British actress Miriam Margolyes, who divides her time between the land of her birth and that of her adoption.

The 79-year-old, whose acting roles include Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, received her certificate from the fair hand of then prime minister Julia Gillard herself, declaring at the time that she was looking forward to voting left here.

Ten years ago, following an anti-Israel outburst by Ms Margolyes on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, British blogger Ray Cook took her measure, here.  What he wrote of her still fits.

The inveterate Israel-basher is known to make and sign statements that denigrate the Jewish State and give aid and comfort to Israel's enemies.  This, for instance, sponsored by APAN, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.

This, too, for example:

'Along with more than 600 other fellow artists, we are announcing today that we will not engage in business-as-usual cultural relations with Israel. We will accept neither professional invitations to Israel, nor funding, from any institutions linked to its government.... Now we are saying, in Tel Aviv, Netanya, Ashkelon or Ariel, we won’t play music, accept awards, attend exhibitions, festivals or conferences, run masterclasses or workshops, until Israel respects international law and ends its colonial oppression of the Palestinians....'

And this, from 2015, which gave joy to the many Israel-haters who infest the corridors of the ABC, the BBC's terrible twin Down Under (taxpayer-funded, accordingly obliged to be objective in its treatment of news and current affairs, but not), and pack the studio audience and dominate the panel of QandA, its equivalent of the BBC's Question Time. 

She was an obligingly leftwing panellist, as her ABC hosts knew she would be, not only demonising Israel, but to rip roaring approval from the usual suspects insulting Aussie prime minister Tony Abbott ("He's a Tit!"), who as a conservative and a practising Catholic to boot is everything the arch-secularist (though pro-Islam) ABC abhors.

Back in 2013 when she received her Aussie citizenship Ms Margolyes enthused about Australia, telling the Sydney Morning Herald, inter alia:

"The main thing is a lack of class," she said. "I don't like class distinction and there's too much of that in England. There's an energy here - an optimism, a vitality. I think England doesn't have that anymore."

In a new three-part ABC documentary she has deplored, among other supposed failings, the fact that Australia has become the "colony of America" and that "Now, there is a sourness, a narrowness and a racism, which I will fight wherever I see it for the rest of my life".  And she's used the F word to defy her critics.

This is vintage ABC, and vintage Margolyes.  She's entitled to her views, of course, but the sheer bloody-mindedness and hypocrisy of the national broadcaster in all this is not lost on Sky News commentator and Australian newspaper journalist Chris Kenny:

'Sky News host Chris Kenny says a documentary series on the ABC which "bags Australia" by UK actress Miriam Margolyes is the same "clichéd, left-wing, morally superior, identity politics on steroids drivel" constantly seen  on the public broadcaster.

Ms Margolyes ... made headlines earlier in May after professing to having preferred UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to have died when he was ill with COVID-19.

"Our national broadcaster only praises Margolyes, in fact it has given her a job making a documentary series about Australia," Mr Kenny said.

In an interview with the ABC's Fran Kelly, Ms Margolyes was not even asked about her "controversial, widely publicised comments about preferring a conservative leader to die".

"Instead the ABC just asked her to bag Australia," Mr Kenny said.

"A billion dollars a year to deliver anti-intellectual attacks on Australia, a public broadcaster dedicated to dumbing down the nation".'  [Emphasis added] 

David Singer: Jordan’s King Abdullah Tries to Torpedo Trump Peace Plan

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

King Abdullah of Jordan has attempted to torpedo President Trump’s peace plan by falsely suggesting it could lead to a one-state solution – not the two-state solution Trump clearly envisages. 

Abdullah's intent became apparent in this interview with Der Spiegel:

DER SPIEGEL: In a few weeks’ time, the Israeli parliament plans to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, which includes the annexation of the West Bank by Israel. What would it mean for Jordan if Trump’s plan for the Middle East were to be implemented?

The question was false in its content and framed in the language of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) – using the term “annexation of the West Bank” instead of “restoring Jewish sovereignty in 30% of the West Bank after 3000 years”.

Abdullah responded to this canard:

King Abdullah II: Is now, in the midst of the corona pandemic, really the time to discuss whether we want a one- or two-state solution for Israel and Palestine? Or should we be discussing how we can fight the pandemic together? The two-state solution is the only way for us to be able to move forward.

Why gratuitously throw in a one-state solution?  Why no mention by Abdullah that the two-state solution could not move forward because the PLO has absolutely refused to negotiate with Israel?

The interviewer’s next question corrected his first – asking about Israel annexing “large parts of the Palestinian territories”:

DER SPIEGEL:  Politicians like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu want to take advantage of the opportunity presented by Trump and annex large parts of the Palestinian territories.

Abdullah ignored the correction – repeating his false one-state allegation:

King Abdullah II: Leaders who advocate a one-state solution do not understand what that would mean. What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region. If Israel really annexes the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Neither Trump nor Netanyahu has advocated a one-state solution.

The “Palestinian Authority” no longer exists – Mahmoud Abbas having changed its name to the “State of Palestine” by decree on 3 January 2013.

Maybe a massive conflict if Israel “annexed” the West Bank – but 30% – an area of 1697 km² [square kilometres]?

The interviewer did not query Abdullah – but blithely continued:

DER SPIEGEL: You would suspend the peace treaty with Israel?

King Abdullah II: I don’t want to make threats and create a loggerheads atmosphere, but we are considering all options. We agree with many countries in Europe and the international community that the law of the strongest should not apply in the Middle East.

Empty posturing.

The Hashemites have controlled Jordan since 1920.

The PLO has controlled Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria since 2004 and allowed its hapless residents only one vote in 2006.

The law of the strongest is alive and kicking in the Middle East.

Abdullah faces Trump calling on him to fill the negotiating void left by the PLO jettisoning Trump’s plan – because:

• Transjordan invaded Judea and Samaria in 1948 driving out every Jew living there
• Transjordan and Judea and Samaria were merged into one territorial entity in 1950 and renamed “Jordan” whilst “Judea and Samaria” was renamed “West Bank”
• “West Bank” Arab residents were granted Jordanian citizenship between 1950 and 1988
• PLO made no claims to territorial sovereignty until Jordan lost Judea and Samaria to Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.

The one-state solution is a desperate Abdullah ploy to remain uninvolved.

The realistic two-state solution – Jordan and Israel – is coming.

 Author’s note: The cartoon – commissioned exclusively for this article — is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones” –  one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators –  whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog

An Interesting Facet of the History of Zionism

It's almost 15 minutes long, but is fast paced, this talk by a British academic who specialises in the history of British-Israel relations.

The speaker is Dr James Vaughan, of the Department of International Relations at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales, the first and arguably still the best such department in the world, which had as its inaugural head Professor Alfred Zimmern, who was of Jewish extraction.

Dr Vaughan is the author of Unconquerable Minds. The Failure of American and British Propaganda in the Arab Middle East, 1945-1957 (Palgrave, 2005), and while he continues to publish on British propaganda policy towards the Arab Middle East and Iran he is currently researching  the changing attitudes and policies of Britain's main political parties towards Zionism, Israel, Palestinian nationalism and the Arab-Israel dispute.


The talk is entitled '"From Aberystwyth to San Remo" - The Birth of International Politics and the Jewish National Home'  To quote the page of the original uploader, UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust, it explains how scholars such as Zimmern and Sir Charles Webster

"combined idealistic internationalism and a ‘Wilsonian’ belief in the rights of small nations to self-determination with an ability to bridge the worlds of academia and politics, both through their connections to Chaim Weizmann and the Zionist Organization, and in their role as participants in the making of the post-war settlement."

David Singer: Trump and Netanyahu Ready to Create History in Judea and Samaria

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

President Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are readying to create history together on 1 July when Israel restores Jewish sovereignty after 3000 years in 1697km² [square kilometers] of territory comprising 30% of Judea and Samaria – the Jewish People's biblical and ancient heartland.

About 65000 Arabs – 5% of the Arab population of Judea and Samaria – and 450000 Jews live in the area proposed for Jewish sovereignty.

The road forward has been made possible after Netanyahu was unanimously confirmed as Israel’s next Prime Minister by 11 judges of Israel’s Supreme Court.

Trump’s map (pictured below) gives practical expression to the following international treaties and documents justifyingIsrael’s proposed action:

• The San Remo Resolution and Treaty of Sevres in 1920

• The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine in 1922

• Article 80 of the UN Charter

Trump’s translation of a dream – begun 100 years ago at San Remo – into a miraculous reality for the Jewish people in July2020 – should be welcomed by every Jew worldwide – privileged to be the generation to see this amazing reaffirmation of the Jewish People’s past history coming alive again.

Instead, this momentous occasion is being met with opposition by many Jewish organisations, media and individuals concerned at what they call “West Bank Annexation” – the identical language used by the UN and EU, PLO and Arab League in opposing Israel’s action.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Restoring Jewish sovereignty in Judea and Samaria –      designated for reconstitution of the Jewish National Home by the international community 100 years ago – is not “West Bank annexation”.

Trump and Netanyahu – therefore – would certainly not have welcomed the publication in the New York Times of an article by Middle East Forum President – Daniel Pipes – headlined “Annexing the West Bank would hurt Israel”.

Pipes opposes Israel’s decision for six reasons:

• President Trump could well erupt in fury at Israel for “unilaterally acting”on 1 July

• “Annexation”would alienate and weaken Israel’s diminishing number of friends in the Democratic Party and in Europe

• “Unilateral Israeli annexation”could end Israel’sexpanding ties with Sunni Arab states.

• “Annexation”could destabilize “Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza”.

• “Annexation”is sure to alienate Israel’s Leftwhich would lead probably to a contingent of Israeli Zionists turning anti-Zionist, with some Israelis leaving the country in disgust

• “Annexation”would be likely to make more Palestinians eligible to become citizens of Israel. 

Two of Pipes’s reasons suggesting “unilateral action” by Israel are simply untrue.

The remaining four will not deter Netanyahu from proceeding to realise this epic milestone in the history of the Jewish People – simultaneously strengthening Israel’s ability to protect the safety and security of its citizens against those Arab neighbours who seek its destruction.

Pipes asks: “And what does annexation actually achieve?”

His answer indicates he has no conception of the miracle unfolding before his very eyes:

“It is a symbolic move, a gesture toward Israelis living on the West Bank in legal limbo. But annexation does not extricate them from that limbo, since it is likely that no important government in the world would recognize their change in legal status.”

This is no symbolic move. The territory involved may be miniscule but this moment in the timeline of the Jewish People is also highly significant for mankind.

Those Jews who returned to reclaim Judea and Samaria following the Six Day War in1967 – after every Jew living there was driven out in 1948 – will be finally recognized and vindicated. Words count.  Pipes – like so many other critical Jews – is sadly missing the big picture.

Author’s note: The cartoon – commissioned exclusively for this article – is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones” – one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators – whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog