The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Palestine (AHLC), the international donor group for Palestine, meeting by videoconference on Tuesday, 2 June, expressed concern about the unilateral actions taken in recent weeks by Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
Stressing “the clear warning” issued at the meeting against Israel's annexation of parts of the West Bank, the Norwegian Chair of the Committee recalls in its summary that “any such move, if implemented, would run counter to the efforts to realise a viable two-state solution and be detrimental to peace and security, and would constitute a violation of international law”. The annexation of part of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley is part of the new Israeli government’s programme.
Committee members also questioned the statement by the Palestinian leadership, in response to possible annexation, to discontinue cooperation with Israel and the United States at all levels and to suspend agreements, including ones on security. “Such political statements and measures call into question the very foundation and logic for state-building upon which donors base their assistance”, warns the AHLC presidency. Conversely, donors have called for the development of agreements and arrangements between the parties, including on their trade and labour relations.
Another area of concern is the growing tension between the parties and the “significant risk that a dramatic shift in local dynamics will trigger conflict, radicalisation and instability in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip”. According to the summary, at the meeting donors recalled that their support under these conditions was demanding and had significant limits. This is a difficult situation where the World Bank estimates that the Palestinian Authority could face a financing gap of more than $1.4 billion in 2020.
At the end of the meeting, in a video statement, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who co-hosted the videoconference with Norway, stressed that both sides should avoid unilateral measures and resume dialogue (see EUROPE 12488/12). “It is urgent that Israel refrain from measures that would lead to the annexation of any part of the occupied Palestinian territories”, he added.
For Mr Borrell, “we can and must find a path to meaningful negotiations. The EU remains ready to do all it can to assist, facilitate and help in this process”. Donors, too, according to the Chair's summary, urged, in the presence of Israeli and Palestinian representatives, both parties to restart, without delay, negotiations on a comprehensive political settlement for a two-State solution.
See the summary of the Norwegian Presidency: https://bit.ly/3gOAOsN (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)