The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is appalled by the continued plan of Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, to proceed with the annexation of Occupied Palestine in the West Bank and Jordan Valley, which was set to commence today, 1 July 2020. Whist it is still unclear what Netanyahu will do this week, he has indicated that he will begin the process of applying Israeli sovereignty to all Jewish settlements, which he notes are located in part of the biblical homeland of the Jews, and now home to several hundred thousand Israelis.

This intended action translates to a process of ethnic cleansing, through a slow genocide of the Palestinian people located in these areas. The annexation will render Palestinians as non-citizens in an Israeli apartheid state. This means Palestinians living in these territories will be landlocked with no access to any borders, reducing the agricultural activities that they so depend on to make a living, and drastically reducing their access to water supply. 

This is an absolute disregard for human life, human rights, and international law. This move will also destroy the possibilities of a renewal of negotiations, and lead to serious tensions in the region. However, supported by the United States, Israel continues with this plan despite the United Nations (U.N) caution. 

COSATU joins the call by international solidarity movements to support the Palestinian demand for the United Nations to impose effective countermeasures, and targeted sanctions against Israel should they continue with the annexation plans. COSATU further supports the international campaign against the annexation of the West Bank, and the Jordan Valley. 

In line with the COSATU resolution and international policy on Palestine, COSATU denounces the unilateral annexation, and appeals to Israel to refrain from carrying out this unjust plan. We call for the U.N to exercise its obligation to all peoples, including the people of Palestine. The U.N must intervene and stop the annexure and form a committee that will look into Israeli crimes against humanity and impose effective targeted sanctions against this aggressive and inhumane regime. It is the responsibility of the U.N. to ensure peace and security for all.

We remain committed in our solidarity campaign for a free Palestine. We will continue to support concrete, genuine, and fair efforts to resolve the stalemate in negotiations and the struggle for a sovereign and self-sustainable Palestine. COSATU will join the picket at the U.S. Consulate in Sandton today at 13h00, to add our voice against this calamity. 

We are Palestinians and Palestinians are us.

Amandla!

Issued by COSATU

Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni (Cde)

International Secretary

Cosatu Head Office

Tel:  011 339 4911 |  Cell:072 535 1577

Email:sonia@cosatu.org.za