The rights of Palestinian people have always been an international priority for UNISON. Our union has consistently called for a two-state solution, with a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, in line with decades of UN resolutions and international law on the issue.
So it was with extreme concern we noted the launch of President Trump’s so called ‘Deal of the Century’ at the end of January; an unashamed attempt to normalise a brutal occupation which has denied the Palestinian people their freedom, justice and rights for over half a century.
These one-sided proposals – drawn up by President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner – completely defy the international consensus on Israel and Palestine. They set out plans to deepen the colonisation of the West Bank, by annexing the illegal settlements, the Jordan Valley and most of East Jerusalem to Israel, whilst rejecting the right of return for millions on Palestinian refugees.
Far from being a plan for peace or prosperity, these proposals, developed without the input of Palestinian leaders, replicate the demands of the Israeli government, whilst offering only an extremely limited and fragmented form of Palestinian state, subject to Israeli security control and a series of subjective preconditions.
They follow several extremely damaging announcements by the US government, including declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel, closing the Palestinian mission in Washington DC, ending support for and challenging the status of millions of Palestinian refugees, and declaring that the settlements are no longer illegal, all of which are extremely damaging to the prospects of peace and a viable two state solution.
Last week I wrote to the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, to urge the government to reject the US government’s ‘Peace to Prosperity’ document. Unfortunately, and predictably, they have welcomed President Trump’s proposals, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling them a “positive step forwards” and Dominic Raab describing them as a “serious proposal” worth “genuine and fair consideration”.
Donald Trump’s plans seeks to entrench a permanent occupation and destroy any hopes of a viable independent Palestinian state of any kind. It cannot be considered serious, genuine or fair by any government or politician that supports peace, justice, equality and rights.
UNISON stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people in rejecting these proposals. We call on the UK government and the international community to reject them too. Palestine will continue to be an international priority for our union and we will continue to call for a two-state solution, with a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, based on UN resolutions and international law.