Churches Against Annexation

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Israel is considering whether to annex large parts of the West Bank, with the U.S. government supporting and coordinating the annexation.

What does this mean? How will this impact the daily lives of Palestinians and the prospect for peace?

Under President Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan, Israel would annex some 30 percent of the West Bank, then negotiate with Palestinians about the future of the rest if they meet various criteria set by Israel and the U.S.

Specifically, Israel would annex all or part of Area C, some 60 percent of the West Bank, while leaving Areas A and B to Palestinians. The peace process since Oslo set up an Area A of major Palestinian cities, Area B of smaller Palestinian towns, and Area C as mostly Palestinian villages and farmland, but also Israel’s settlements and military bases.

The purpose is to annex as many Israeli settlements and land, and as few Palestinian residents, as possible. The overwhelming majority of Palestinians would be left in Areas A and B. Around 2.6 million people, not being annexed, would have no rights in Israel. No citizenship and no other rights either, as they would be foreigners. These leftover Areas A and B would be an archipelago of non-contiguous bantustans, spread around only 40 percent of the West Bank’s land.

Without that contiguity, without any link to the outside world save through Israel, and without the other 60 percent of their land, this vast majority of West Bank Palestinians would be condemned to destitution. Eventual statehood for those millions is not guaranteed in Trump’s plan or Israel’s, and it would be a failed state economically anyway.

The far fewer 10-15 percent of West Bank Palestinians now living in Area C, still hundreds of thousands, would have other problems. Domestic Israeli law would allow broader confiscation of their lands, much like land has been confiscated in annexed East Jerusalem. It is unclear whether Israel would offer them citizenship, but with or without it they would be discriminated against as the Arab citizens of Israel, and permanent residents in East Jerusalem, already are.

Area C annexation is not a viable or just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel’s settlers would certainly gain more control over their own lives. Palestinians would have even less control than they have now. Their social, economic and cultural ties would be broken up, and movement between Palestinian areas would become even more difficult than today. Oppression would be the certainty for West Bank Palestinians, as Israelis keep control of many aspects of their lives whether annexed inside Israel or left outside Israel (as in Gaza).

CMEP’s executive director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon says, “As Christians, we cannot support unilateral annexation; because peace must be negotiated between the parties directly involved – Israelis and Palestinians. As Americans, we believe the U.S. must neither foot the bill for annexation, nor provide diplomatic cover for it.”

Webinars

Palestinian Voices: Annexation and its impact on the Christian Community in Israel/Palestine: For this first webinar, we were thrilled to hear from Rev. Isaac and Father Khader, who recently co-authored a powerful op-ed in Haaretz on the devastating impact annexation will have for the future of the Christian community in Palestine. Learn more about how Christian leaders in Palestine are responding to the possibility of annexation.

Why should Christians in the pews care about annexation and Palestinian human rights?: Hear from Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans of the Christian Reformed Church and Rev. David Andrews, of The Episcopal Church, on why it is critical for Christians to care about the situation in Israel-Palestine, especially now with annexation looming.

Legislation

HR 8050: Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act
On Friday, August 14, Rep. Betty McCollum (MN) introduced HR 8050 the Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act to prohibit the US’s recognition of Israel’s claim of sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. This act would ensure that the US government neither recognizes nor funds the annexation of any parts of the West Bank. Congresswoman McCollum was joined by Reps. Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Tlaib (MI), Pocan (WI), Omar (MN), Pressley (MA), and Carson (IN). Show your support! Contact your representative today.

What is Driving Annexation Now?

Area C annexation became a mainstream idea in Israeli politics fairly recently, from just before the Trump administration. Many Israelis oppose, as do Palestinians. Enter Trump.
President Trump appointed his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to build a Plan with David Friedman (who became U.S. Ambassador to Israel) and Jason Greenblatt.
While they were working on the plan with PM Netanyahu’s Israeli government, the Trump administration set about removing other longstanding aspects from U.S. peace process policy. They closed the Palestinians’ diplomatic office in the U.S., withheld first some and then all humanitarian and economic assistance to Palestinians, ended U.S. support for UNRWA that provides schooling and food to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza and across the Middle East, recognized Israeli annexations of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, and moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
These moves pleased many Israelis as taking their side against Palestinians. Then President Trump’s “peace” plan – – the economic part released in June 2019 and the political part in January 2020 – – fit Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Area C annexation ideas, and he and Israeli opposition leader Gantz endorsed Trump’s plan before Israel’s March 2 election.
That Israeli election essentially ended in a draw, and Gantz decided to join Netanyahu in a coalition government. Their coalition agreement calls for Annexation to be presented to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, as early as July 1.
As part of the Trump plan, in February 2020 the U.S. government formed a joint commission with Israel to map out what parts of Area C are to be immediately annexed by Israel. Palestinians have no say, indeed ordinary Israelis have no say in the matter.

Resource Articles on Area C Annexation

Israel Annexation: New Border Plans leave Palestinians in Despair, BBC, June 2020
The human rights effects of Area C annexation, and in the article’s left margin is a link to a longer and quite comprehensive study on it. Yesh Din, 2020.
Why Area C annexation (and the Trump plan) won’t work. American Prospect, 2020.
Netanyahu adopted Area C annexation in 2017 when he found it had Trump administration support, but he had written in his 2000 book that this was his eventual solution. Haaretz, 2019.
Whatever the Trump plan says, at Revava in July 2019 Netanyahu laid out the Government of Israel’s four principles for Area C annexation Haaretz, 2019
While most of Israel’s political leaders have endorsed some sort of annexation, support among Jewish Israelis is only just below 50 percent. Haaretz, 2019.
Hanan Ashrawi on the Trump administration steps toward annexation. Washington Post, 2019.
Amb. Friedman on the Trump administration steps toward annexation, before plan was presented. Israel Hayom, 2020.
A roundup of differing opinions on whether international opp osition will affect annexation. Times of Israel, 2020.
The US-Israel mapping commission is deciding what Israel will annex. Times of Israel, 2020.
Secretary Pompeo saying that annexation is for Israelis to decide. Jerusalem Post, 2020.
The Israeli coalition April agreement on July 1 annexation. Jerusalem Post, 2020.
“Will Israel’s New Government Pursue Annexation?” by Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS) Nimrod Novik and journalist Tal Shalev. A long video analysis on Israeli annexation politics and how annexation would work on the ground for Palestinians and Israelis. Ends with discussing U.S. funding for annexation. J Street, 2020.
Naftali Bennett and other settler reps began proposing Area C-only annexation in 2012. They did so in the Government of Israel from 2016. Washington Post, 2016.

Statements and Op-eds

An Open Letter from Christian Clergy from the Bethlehem Area, July 7, 2020
Christian Leader letter to Republican and Democratic National Committees Urging Changes to Israel/Palestine section of Party Platforms, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), July 3, 2020
Opposing Israeli annexation, UCC and Disciples leaders amplify Palestinian ‘Cry for Hope’, United Church of Christ, July 1, 2020
Quaker Statement on Potential Israeli Annexation of the West Bank, American Friends Service Committee, July 1, 2020
Background and Rationale for Tell Congress to Say No to Annexation, Christian Reformed Church in North America, June 2020
Annexation Will Undermine Peace in Middle East, The Lutheran World Federation, June 29, 2020
ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Annexation Statement, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, June 18, 2020
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s Letter to ELCJHL Presiding Bishop Azar on Annexation, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, June 9, 2020
27 Church Leaders Write to Congress opposing unilateral annexation of the Occupied West Bank, June 4, 2020
Liberation, not Annexation: A Statement and Pentecost Message from Bishop Azar, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, May 31, 2020
WCC and MECC Joint Letter to the European Union, May 11, 2020
A Statement by the Patriarchs and Heads of Holy Land Churches on Israeli Unilateral Annexation Plans, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, May 7, 2020
Opinion: Donald Trump Is Complicit in a Catastrophe for Christians, Munther Isaac and Jamal Khader, Haaretz, May 6, 2020 [May require subscription]

Take Action

HR 8050: Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act:: On Friday, August 14, Rep. Betty McCollum (MN) introduced HR 8050 the Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act to prohibit the US’s recognition of Israel’s claim of sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. This act would ensure that the US government neither recognizes nor funds the annexation of any parts of the West Bank. Congresswoman McCollum was joined by Reps. Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Tlaib (MI), Pocan (WI), Omar (MN), Pressley (MA), and Carson (IN).

Here are 3 Steps to Raise Your Voice on Social Media

Join us in solidarity with #ChurchesAgainstAnnexation by printing out the campaign graphic or creating your own and posting pictures of you individually and with groups on social media. Consider hosting a Zoom small group gathering so you can be in a picture together! Be sure to use #ChurchesAgainstAnnexation and tag us in your post – @ChurchesforMEP – on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Invite others to join the campaign. Share with friends, small groups, your community, and your church and welcome them to participate in #ChurchesAgainstAnnexation. Social media is a great way to raise awareness around this issue.

Take Action:

Continue to Speak Out Against Annexation

Churches, Pastors, and Lay Members Urged to Sign Letter

While many people were celebrating the recent normalization deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the threat of annexation remained very real for Palestinians living in the area slated for annexation. Although Israel suspended its immediate annexation plans, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move forward. His commitment to the annexation plan promises a bleak future for Palestinians already compromised by human rights violations and greatly endangers any hope for a peaceful reconciliation.

Why It Matters

Organizations such as Amnesty International and the United Nations have already accused the Israeli forces of perpetrating a long list of human rights violations. Included on that list are:

Home demolitions and the forced eviction of Palestinian families
Punitive arrests
Unfair trials
Ill-treatment and torture of detainees
The use of excessive or lethal force to subdue nonviolent demonstrations
Severe restrictions on Palestinians’ movement by several hundred roadblocks and checkpoints make travel to work or visit family nearly impossible. There are concerns that it also affects access to water.

The Bible tells the people of God to defend those who cannot defend themselves and speak out on behalf of the marginalized
(Pr. 31:8-9).

Annexation Portends a Future of Destitution for Palestinians

Annexation would add to the already unjust and inequitable situation for approximately 2.6 million Palestinians in the West Bank. It would amplify discrimination, make them subject to Israeli law (either civil or military) cut off Palestinians from natural resources and their land in annexed areas, and likely lead to displacement. They would become even more reliant on Israel to connect with the outside world, plunging them into increased isolation and more severe wide-spread poverty.

A Call to Action

Christians are called to be agents of reconciliation and to work for justice regardless of whether or not the people for whom we advocate share our beliefs. James challenges us to not only be hearers of the word but doers (James 1:22).

The evidence suggests that annexation will increase inequalities and human rights violations of the Palestinian people, making it imperative for Christians to oppose annexation and work toward an end to the conflict resulting in justice and equality for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The annexation continues to face opposition by essentially every government in the region, including a majority of Israeli Jews, the European Union, and nearly every humanitarian organization. Their opposition is based on the assertion that annexation will surely undermine efforts to create peace in the region and normalize human rights violations.

Even if you signed the June 2, 2020 letter to Congress urging them to oppose unilateral annexation of the Occupied West Bank and renounce the use of US funds to support or facilitate annexation, there is more work to be done. Jesus calls the church to “let our light shine” in such a way the world sees our good deeds and glorifies our Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16). We implore you to continue to assert pressure by signing our most recent statement to affirm your opposition. We hope that you will stand in solidarity with other church leaders and members to take action.