In a joint initiative by the Palestinian People’s Party and the Communist Party of Israel, dozens of Communist and Workers’ parties from around the world have signed the following statement entitled: “Occupation is Terror; Annexation is Apartheid.”

Yesterday, June 5, 2020 marked the 53^rd anniversary of the launching of Israel’s war of aggression of 1967, in which it occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip, as well the Syrian Golan Heights and all of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Palestinians protest the US-Israeli “Deal of the Century” in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, May 30, 2020. (Photo: Activestills)

This year’s anniversary comes in the pall of the Israeli government’s declared intention to annex occupied Palestinian lands in the West Bank with the support of the US administration, as part of the Donald Trump’s catastrophic “Deal of the Century.” The significance of this move will be the perpetuation of Israel’s occupation, the entrenchment of its settlement project, and the creation of an official Apartheid regime; all this while negating the Palestinian people’s right of self-determination by means of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return for refugees in accordance with international resolutions.

The newest Netanyahu government and the Trump administration are pushing the region to the brink of disaster by perpetuating the conflict in the service of Israel’s hegemonic projects, while banking on the silence of the international community regarding these crimes – war crimes – in light of the global preoccupation with COVID-19 pandemic and its vast ramifications on the world’s health, societies and economy.

We, the undersigned workers’ and communist parties, call upon progressive, anti-imperialist forces around the world to continue the struggle against Israel’s criminal policies and its impudent support of imperialism aimed at liquidating the rights of the Palestinian People and obviating any chance to implement international law, and reach security and stability in the region.

Down with the Occupation!

Forward with the struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination!

Among the signatories to the above statement:

1. Communist Party of Albania
2. Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism
3. Party of Labour of Austria
4. CP of Australia
5. Progressive Tribune of Bahrain
6. Communist Party of Belgium
7. Workers’ Party of Belgium
8. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
9. Communist Party of Brazil
10. Brazilian Communist Party
11. New Communist Party of Britain
12. Communist Party of Britain
13. Communist Party of Canada
14. Communists of Catalonia
15. Communist Party of Chile
16. Communist Party of Cuba
17. AKEL – Cyprus
18. Communist Party in Denmark
19. Communist Party of Finland
20. French Communist Party
21. German Communist Party
22. Communist Party of Greece
23. Communist Party of India (Marxist) 
24. Tudeh Party of Iran
25. Workers’ Party of Ireland
26. Communist Party of Israel
27. Communist Party of Italy
28. Italian Communist Party
29. Jordanian Communist Party
30. Communist Party of Mexico
31. Popular Socialist Party – National Political Association, Mexico
32. Communist Party of Norway
33. Palestinian People’s Party
34. Paraguayan Communist Party
35. Peruvian Communist Party
36. PKP-1930, the Philippine Communist Party
37. Communist Party of Poland
38. Portuguese Communist Party
39. Union of Communist Parties – CPSU
40. Communists of Serbia
41. Communist Party of Spain
42. Communist Party of the Workers of Spain – PCTE
43. Communist Party of Sri Lanka
44. Sudanese Communist Party
45. South African Communist Party
46. Communist Party of Swaziland
47. Communist Party of Turkey
48. Communist Party of Ukraine
49. Communist Party of USA
50. New Communist Party of Yugoslavia