“Israel’s government, currently led by Benjamin Netanyahu, wants to rush ahead with annexation before the US election because it fears a change of US administration would put an end to this appalling and dangerous plan. The international community must apply every pressure on Israel to stop in its tracks Netanyahu’s takeover of Palestinian lands,” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary.

The plan, supported by Donald Trump, has been fiercely criticised by his opponent in the election, Joe Biden, and the end of US support would be a massive blow to the strategy of Netanyahu, who has publicly stated that Palestinians “have to recognize that we are the ones dictating security rules over the entire territory”. Netanyahu is currently on trial in the Jerusalem District Court on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

The annexation would disconnect some 200,000 Palestinians from their livelihoods and vital water sources, agricultural lands would be subject to Israeli control and the annexation of illegal settlements around Jerusalem would end prospects of a Palestinian capital in the eastern part of the city.

“The proposed annexation plan is a stark violation of international law and unilaterally, de facto nullifies the prospects for genuine negotiations leading to the realisation of a two-state solution, based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state. This plan cannot be allowed to go ahead,” said Burrow.