The Joint List called on Britain’s biggest political parties to vigorously oppose Israel’s plans to annex parts of the Palestinian occupied West Bank. The two letters, dated June 26 were penned by Hadash MK Yousef Jabareen, the head of the Joint List’s international relations committee, and were sent to the UK Conservative party leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the Labour party’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer. In the letters, the Joint List parliamentarians said the UK needed to “actively oppose” attempts by Israel to unilaterally annex territory.

“History has demonstrated the tragic consequences of illegal annexations,” the letter read. “We fear that if Britain and its European allies do not urgently act to prevent this impending annexation, our region may witness yet another major upheaval.”

Peace activists turned the water in the fountain at Trump Square red in the Israeli city of Petah Tikva on Monday, June 29, to protest the Netanyahu government’s intention to annex parts of the West Bank. Graffiti scrawled at the base of the fountain read “Annexation will cost us blood.” (Photo: Al Ittihad)

“Along with the international community and the Palestinian leadership, we advocate for the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital alongside the state of Israel,” the Joint List letter read. “Any act of annexation – whether of the Jordan Valley, or of the so-called settlement blocs – will deal a fatal blow to the two-state solution and lasting peace in the region. Accordingly, we respectfully urge you to convey to Israel’s political leadership that you will not hesitate to act forcefully against any Israeli attempt to annex settlements and impose Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank,” the letter added.