Finland confirmed its rejection of the Israeli occupation plan, including parts of the West Bank, as an act in violation of international law, and in violation of the United Nations Charter prohibiting the use of force.
This came during the response of Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto to an account by Veronika Hounkasalo, the head of the Palestinian Friendship Committee in Parliament, about the Israeli government´s plan to annex the West Bank.
Haavisto stressed that Finland is part of the European Union, and the international community does not recognize the West Bank occupied by Israel since 1967 as part of the State of Israel, and that any change in the 1967 borders must be accepted by the parties concerned.
The minister said that other countries have an obligation not to recognize the annexation and its consequences, because it violates the Palestinians ’right to self-determination, which is a mandatory rule in international law, noting that Finland cannot accept Israel´s annexation of the West Bank or parts of it.
It is noteworthy that Finland had expressed its view during bilateral contacts with Israel, regarding the repercussions and harms of unilateral actions on the peace process, as well as through conferences held with the European Union foreign ministers, stressing that its activities will remain effective and important in the European Union.
Most of the European Union foreign ministers also stressed the need to prevent the annexation process through dialogue with the parties concerned, the most important of which is the new Israeli government.
