August 14, 2020
Canadian Friends of Peace Now applauds the news that Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank are shelved as the result of an accord reached yesterday between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The two countries have agreed to normalize their relations – a diplomatic breakthrough long in the making. The deal includes a statement that Israel will “suspend declaring sovereignty” over areas of the West Bank envisioned as part of Israel through the ill-conceived Trump Plan.
Israel’s unilateral annexation of any West Bank territory would have severe, if not disastrous, consequences for a future two-state accord with the Palestinians. Regardless, Benjamin Netanyahu promised to go ahead with such an initiative as early as July 1of this year. The outrageous promise rightly evoked much condemnation from the international community, and even among Israel’s allies and within parts of its own security community. The agenda became stalled, probably because Netanyahu’s backer, President Trump, became concerned it might not help his election chances. The current diplomatic coup reflects better on Trump than a storm over a blatant land grab by Israel.
The word “suspension” is not the same as “cancellation.” It could be perceived as a halt that is only temporary. Indeed, Netanyahu has said as much, with statements that diverge from how the UAE and the U.S. have interpreted the understanding. This might just be face-saving rhetoric by Netanyahu, but it must nevertheless be vehemently decried. The annexationist camp must not be encouraged in any way.
Even if, as we hope, official annexation is permanently off the table, the status quo is nothing to cheer about. We remain deeply concerned about unremitting occupation and settlement expansion. Peace Now calls this “creeping” or “de facto” annexation because it is designed to, and has the consequence of, making a future viable Palestinian state ever harder to achieve.
The UAE has asserted that its new relationship with Israel will help maintain the viability of a two-state solution. We hope this is so. We urge all parties to work towards a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution. It is the only way to bring a just peace. It is the only way to avoid the slide into an increasingly untenable, increasingly violent one-state reality.
