Israeli settlements

“Israeli settlements are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which forbids transfer of civilian population into occupied territory” — is there anything new? No, this is what the world knows for decades; it was just reiterated by the UNHRC’s appointed fact-finding mission on Israeli settlements. However, the HRC report goes beyond the usual condemnation of Israel. It asks other nations, agencies and companies to break ties with settlement project.
Most importantly, the report concludes that the Rome Statute establishes the International Court’s jurisdiction over the transfer of population in the occupied Palestine Territory. In my opinion, the ball is now in Palestinians’ court. They should not expect the US, the EU or Quartet to take Israelis to the ICC on criminal charges. Only Palestinians can decide the way forward provided they are ready to face the expected punitive reaction from Israel. On the eve of Oslo Agreement in 1993, there were around 200,000 settlers in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem; now half a million settlers are living in West Bank and East Jerusalem alone.
There are 127 settlements in the West Bank with dozens of Jewish outposts which are being changed into settlements at regular intervals. We congratulate the UNHRC team which also included Pakistan’s human rights activists — Asma Jahangir —for such a forceful report. World is waiting for Palestinians to take their destiny into their own hands. — Masood Khan, Jubail