September 9th, 2025
On May 19, 2020 J-Link was joined by 50 Jewish organizations from 17 Countries, to petition Israel to avoid a tragic mistake by annexing (applying sovereignty) to the occupied Palestinian territories. J-Link advocates for values consistent with our commitment to Israel’s security as a democratic country that protects the rights of all its citizens and adheres to international law. At the time we applauded the dropping of the annexation initiatives in favour of regional cooperative treaties known as the Abraham Accords.
Recently the Israeli government, under pressure by extremist right- wing parties, is again planning to annex large parts of the West Bank and Gaza. Unilateral annexation is illegal under international law and contravenes all relevant UN Security Council resolutions pertaining to the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly UNSC Resolution 2334 of Dec. 2016.
If implemented, annexation will signify the demise of the two-state solution and will dash any hopes of the Palestinian people achieving self-determination through nonviolent means.
Furthermore, annexation could turn Israel into a state that maintains permanent control over millions of Palestinians living within its territory while denying them the most basic civil and political rights, thereby putting an end to democracy.
As in 2020, unilateral annexation would further isolate Israel internationally; and more importantly, as stated by the United Arab Emirates, it “draws a red line that would end regional integration” as part of the Abraham Accords. Annexation will destroy the very security that Israel has always sought. If Palestinian Statehood is prevented, Israel risks provoking a mounting tide of delegitimization and antisemitism.
Annexation will jeopardize relations between Israel and progressive Jews around the world for whom human rights, equality and democracy are essential moral principles.
J-Link urges the government of the State of Israel to drop all annexation initiatives.
Respectfully, The J-Link Coordinating Committee
Jon Allen (Former Canadian Ambassador to Israel and Spain), Ken Bob (New Jewish Narrative, U.S.A.), Basil Dubb (JDI, South Africa), Giorgio Gomel (JCall Europe, Italy), Barbara Landau (Canada), Alon Liel (PWG, Israel), Sebastian Levi, (JCall France), Shlomo Slutzky (J Amlat, Argentina).
