DFLP: The Transfer of Law Powers in the Settlements is an Annexation Plan in the West Bank

In a statement released today, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) stated that the decision by Israeli Defense Minister “Katz” yesterday to transfer law enforcement powers in the settlements to the Israeli police force led by the fascist Ben Gvir is a continuation of the plan to annex the West Bank and impose sovereignty over it, and an ongoing attempt to change the political and legal status of the occupied West Bank in favor of imposing Israeli laws on it. These attempts have intensified over the past year with the transfer of functions related to land settlement, registration, planning, and enforcement to the Israeli military administration.

The DFLP added in its statement: “All these occupation measures aim to remove the temporary military character of the administration of the occupied territories, as stipulated in the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to serve the policy of promoting settlement in the occupied West Bank. According to international law, Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and UN Resolution 2334 of 2016, all of this is illegal and void, and will not create any right for the occupation in our Palestinian land.”

The DFLP concluded its statement by emphasizing that this decision by the occupation government and the occupation’s defense minister is an invitation to commit more acts of terrorism and crimes by the settlers, in blatant disregard and defiance of the timid international criticism and the weak punitive measures against a handful of those called violent settlers. It added that all the crimes committed against our people would not have continued without American support and international silence, which encourages the occupation state to continue its fascist policies and actions.

The DFLP concluded its statement by calling for the unification of Palestinian efforts to confront the project of promoting settlement and annexation, which is escalating as the elections for the Israeli Knesset approach. The crimes of the occupation against our people are being used as a bargaining chip in the electoral market by the fascist trio (Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and Smotrich). This can be achieved through restoring Palestinian national unity and adopting a national strategy of resistance, with the Palestinian popular resistance as its cornerstone. The brave examples of this resistance have recently been seen in the villages of Tel, Beit Furik, Deir Jarr, and Qasra.

Central Media Office – Ramallah