BWI denounces Israel's annexation plan

(Photo: Anadolu Agency)

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) reiterates its opposition to actions that contradict the spirit and provisions of international law in any conflict zone in the world. We believe that United Nations (UN) is the reference in settling and resolving international conflicts while meaningful peace can only be achieved if both the Israelis and Palestinians come back to the negotiating table and redefine the way forward to a two-State solution.

In this context, the BWI denounces the American Peace Plan (Deal of the Century). It is an unwelcome intervention that is a departure from the rules and principles of international law disregards internationally accepted processes. 

BWI reaffirms that it does not agree with actions or positions that compromise the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to recover their lands occupied by Israel since 1967, and their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel will prevent the establishment of a viable and geographically connected Palestinian state after applying strict military separation measures that will lead to the destruction of the existing road and street network in the West Bank.  The construction of new road networks is projected to double the internal pressure on the Palestinians, specially the more than 200,000 Palestinian residents whose social surroundings, their political space and their field of work which is mainly in agriculture will restrict their economic possibilities. The base of Israeli investment in the Palestinian Valley may then operate at the expense of the indigenous people and Palestinian landowners.

Therefore, BWI calls on the trade union movement and their allies to urge their governments and parliaments to put pressure on the government of Israel and the American administration, to adhere to the rules of international law and call for return to direct negotiations, as well as to demand a real investigation on the occupation’s crimes against the Palestinian people, who are under the yoke of the Israeli occupation, and the recognition of the State of Palestine on the borders of 1967 and its capital, Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

In addition, BWI, in support of the international community and the global trade union movement statements, calls upon all its affiliates and the wider labour movement to denounce the proposed illegal Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley, and to do all in their powers to maximise pressure on their respective governments to:

• Unreservedly condemn the annexation plans; 
• Commit to supporting international sanctions on the Israeli government should it proceed with the annexation.