One reader approves of my Warsi letter piece for the Telegraph:

Thank you for your excellent piece on Baroness Warsi’s resignation letter. It is profoundly depressing to find such poor literacy and reasoning skills in anyone, let alone a senior government minister. What the country needs is government that is capable of clear thought rather than window-dressing political correctness.

Another reader digs hard but with impeccable courtesy into the policy issues and makes the case against Israel’s policies strongly. I reproduce this letter accordingly:

Thank you for the interesting blog which appeared online.

I would like to disagree with your comments about Baroness Warsi. Her legitimate reasons are honourable and were conveyed eloquently. Indeed, the UN view the shelling of schools as appalling and criminal. The killing of women, children and UN staff is morally indefensible.

Moreover, there is no focus in the respective blog on the over 150 UN Resolutions (including UN Security Council Resolutions 476 and 478 regarding the continued illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian East Jerusalem), plus there is no mention of the ruling by the International Court of Justice from 2004 concerning the “wall” in the West Bank, which was condemned by the International Court and the EU (in a supporting UN Resolution). The “wall” is 421 miles long and over 3 times the length of the Berlin Wall and built inside the Palestinian  Territories at a cost of billions. Therefore the “wall” is unlikely to be removed soon – though it violates international law.

Hamas’ Charter is wrong. So is Likud’s and the extreme views espoused by certain members of the Israeli Knesset including those uttered by the Deputy Speaker Moshe Feiglin are beyond comprehension. The views by the Economics Minister Nafatli Bennett do not reflect a reasonable approach to peacefully resolve the conflict in the Middle East in line with international legitimacy resolutions.

The rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to the right of Palestine (recognised by an overwhelming 138 nations in 2012) to live in recognised and secure borders is unjustifiable, as is the growth of illegal colonial settlements – which the EU have opposed as illegal and issued Guidelines for. The US reject the legitimacy of settlements which incidentally facilitate different laws, where indigenous Palestinians on the West Bank endure humiliation and discrimination. Mr Netanyahu elaborated his views when he was interviewed by Michael Horowitz from the Times of Israel last month concerning two states.

It was disappointing that Mr Netanyahu is still using Drones over Gaza (as per the BBC Radio 5 report tonight) and rejected the resolution to investigate war crimes by the Human Rights Council. That raises concerns that Mr Netanyahu objects to the views of the UN or a need to adhere to all UN Resolutions to peacefully bring about a two-state solution.

Please could you kindly see information below?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

[Name]

The UN view of the Palestinian Territories can be seen at the following URL:

https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/OCHA_IsrSettlementPolicies.pdf

* The West Bank and East Jerusalem is occupied Palestine (bilaterally recognised by 133 nations in the world including India, China, Russia, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Guatemala, Thailand and Iceland). This number has increased since 2013.

* Palestine is officially a non-member State and recognised by the UN. 138 nations supported Palestine in November 2012 in its successful bid for statehood. France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Greece, Cyprus and Malta were among many European nations to support Palestine. Their vote for Palestine was important as were those cast by India, China, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and New Zealand who supported Palestine too. The Secretary General of the UN and Vatican Church welcomed the re-birth of Palestine.

* However, Palestine (West Bank and East Jerusalem) is still illegally held and sadly Israel’s Prime Minister Mr Netanyahu has ignored the ruling of the International Court of Justice (subsequently supported by the UN and EU) with respect to the “separation barrier”. This “wall” is 3 times the length of the Berlin Wall.

* UNESCO’s recognition of Palestine in 2011 was supported by France, Spain, Ire-land, Belgium, Norway, Greece and other European nations.

* Please also see UNSC Resolution 478 concerning Jerusalem. The 4th Geneva Convention is applicable to all the Palestinian Territories.

* International law and UN Resolutions (over which there are over 150) are ignored by Israel’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

* UN Resolutions specify Israel’s illegal hold of the Palestinian Territories to be a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention and as such is a War Crime under international law. More so now, that settlements are being placed in another nation.

*** UN Security Council Resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980 – BINDING
The Security Council, recalling its resolution 476 (1980);
reaffirming again that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible;
deeply concerned over the enactment of a “basic law” in the Israeli
Knesset proclaiming a change in the character and status of the Holy City of
Jerusalem, with its implications for peace and security; noting that Israel has
not complied with resolution 476 (1980); reaffirming its determination to
examine practical ways and means, in accordance with the relevant provisions of
the Charter of the United Nations, to secure the full implementation of its
resolution 476 (1980), in the event of non-compliance by Israel ; Censures in
the strongest terms the enactment by Israel of the “basic law” on
Jerusalem and the refusal to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions;

*** Resolution 694 (1991) – BINDING

Adopted by the Security Council at its 2989th meeting on 24 May 1991
The Security Council,
Reaffirming its resolution 681 (1990),
Having learned with deep concern and consternation that Israel has, in violation of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and acting in opposition to relevant Security Council resolutions, and to the detriment of efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, deported four Palestinian civilians on 18 May 1991,
1. Declares that the action of the Israeli authorities of deporting four Palestinians on 18 May is in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which is applicable to all the Palestinian territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;
2. Deplores this action and reiterates that Israel, the occupying Power, refrain from deporting any Palestinian civilian from the occupied territories and ensure the save and immediate re-turn of all those
deported;
3. Decides to keep the situation under review.

*** Resolution 672 (1990) – BINDING

Adopted by the Security Council at its 2948th meeting on 12 October 1990
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980),
Reaffirming that a just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict must be based on its resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) through an active negotiating process which takes into account the right
to security for all States in the region, including Israel, as well as the legitimate political rights of the Palestinian people,
Taking into consideration the statement of the Secretary-General relative to the purpose of the mission he is sending to the region and conveyed to the Council by the President on 12 October 1990,
1. Expresses alarm at the violence which took place on 8 October at the Al Haram al Shareef and other Holy Places of Jerusalem resulting in over twenty Palestinian deaths and to the in-jury of more than one hundred and fifty people, including Palestinian civilians and innocent worshippers;
2. Condemns especially the acts of violence committed by the Israeli security forces resulting in injuries and loss of human life;
3. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which is applicable to all the territories occupied by
Israel since 1967;
4. Requests, in connection with the decision of the Secretary-General to send a mission to the region, which the Council welcomes, that he submit a report to it before the end of October 1990 containing his
findings and conclusions and that he use as appropriate all the resources of the United Na-tions in the region in carrying out the mission.

24th April 2012 – UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
“I strongly condemn the Israeli government’s decision yesterday to turn three illegal outposts in the West Bank into settlements. I urged the Israeli government in my statement on 5 April to remove – not
legalise – outposts across the West Bank”.

Furthermore, I would like to refer you to specific serious concerns raised by the International Court of Justice (2004) – with relevance to the ‘security barrier’ – which was viewed with alarm by the international community. Incidentally the reference to the illegality of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem was also reinforced when the International Court of Justice also found the following (indeed the EU supported the UN vote pertaining to the ‘security barrier’):

* That the separation barrier is intended to assist the settlements, the establishment of which violates Article 49 of the Convention. Also, the court pointed out that the restrictions placed on the local population located between the barrier and the Green Line are liable to lead to abandonment of the land, which also constitutes a violation of Article 49. In addition, the opinion stated that taking control of private land to build the barrier injured private property owners, and thus violated Articles 46 and 52 of the Hague Regulations of 1907 and of Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Some other key UN Security Council Resolutions on Palestine – BINDING AND INTERNATIONAL LAW (there are over 150 UN Resolutions) [listed]