Israel’s rights explained by European counsel
NSW parliamentarian The Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC has hosted a meeting at which Andrew Tucker – Executive Director of Christians for Israel and International and Legal Counsel to the European Coalition for Israel delivered an address titled ” Israel, Settlements and International Law”.Tucker’s organisation is a Brussels-based foundation dedicated to defending Israel’s rights in the European Union and United Nations Institutions.
Andrew Tucker and the Rev Fred Nile
Mr Tucker studied law at Melbourne and Oxford Universities and practised as an Attorney in Australia, UK and Netherlands for 20 Years in the fields of international and EU law.
Members of Parliament and the general public were in attendance at the event hel at the NSW State Parliament.
The main points made by Mr Tucker were:
1. Jewish people had pre- existing rights to the West Bank before 1948 which have been preserved by article 80 of the UN Charter
2. Israel is a legitimate State which has a right to self- defence and security
3. Israel is not obliged to accept the two-state solution which compromises its security.
4. International law does not require Israel to withdraw its citizens from all of the West Bank
5. The pre-1967 lines do not represent Israel’s borders which are still in dispute.
6. Arab Palestinians have repeatedly rejected a state of their own in 1937,1947,2000…Do they still have a right to independence and/ or statehood? ( Other occasions Mr Tucker did not mention included (i) at any time between 1948-1967 and (ii) in 2008)
7. Israel’s annexation of Jerusalem is entirely consistent with international law.
8. The Palestinians do not “own” the West Bank
9. International law does not mandate a two- state solution – that is a political choice.
It is all in the language.
Unlike Jewish contributors, including leadership, to J-Wire and other Jewish publications, Andrew Tucker and the Chistian supporters of Fred Nile and Israel never use words such as “occupation” or “conquered” when talking about Jewish residents of Shomron and Yehuda, nor do they call it “the West Bank”.
Right after the 1967 victory Israel said it would “give BACK” the conquered land for peace. If Israel offers to return land it means it wasn’t Israel’s in the first place. It is stolen land to be returned. What does the Jewish world expect the nations to understand?
It is this language of the majority of jewes and Israelis that defeats the Jews.
Concise,accurate and well put.
now….publish this on the front page of every newspaper in the world!