DISAGREES WITH GWYNNE DYER

Gwynne Dyer (in the Guardian Nov. 20 column ‘News that isn’t news') ignorantly claims that prior to 1967, the entire population of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) was “Palestinian.” This completely ignores how Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel, including Judea and Samaria, and have lived there, uninterrupted for over 3,000 years.

Contrary to Mr. Dyer’s belief, Israel and the Jewish people have legitimate claims to Judea and Samaria according to international law as these lands were promised to the Jewish people at the San Remo Conference (1920), which saw the establishment in British-mandate Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

As for Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria today, Mr. Dyer seems to be forgetting that there never was a sovereign of these disputed lands. Israel liberated these areas from Jordanian occupation in a defensive war. As stated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations …” It is clear that Israel’s actions were absolutely legal under international law and the laws of war.

Mr. Dyer also completely disregards United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 242, which enshrines the “land for peace formula,” emphasizing that Israeli withdrawal from lands acquired in 1967, must be accompanied by peace.

This was incorporated into UNSC Resolution 338 following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and is superseded under the terms of the Oslo II Agreement signed by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Accordingly, these binding instruments of international law provide the legitimacy for Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria.

It’s the ongoing perpetuation of the myths that Mr. Dyer promulgates that is the real issue that must be corrected and addressed.

Noah J. Lewis is a research analyst with HonestReporting Canada