With or without "constitutional reform," the Government of #Israel formalized - under its internal law, and in violation of int'l law - 9 settlement outposts last night, built in whole or in part on privately owned #Palestinian land and home to the most violent settlers:

This week, #Israel's military government of occupied #Palestinian territory decided to expand 33 settlements, erected in grave breach of international law, across the West Bank.

#Israeli settlements do not expand in a vacuum, and adjacent Palestinian communities will fall victim to an acquisitive occupation, determined to forcibly displace them. Most adversely affected Palestinian communities are found in the #Jerusalem and #Nablus periphery.

I urge accountability for the aggression against Huwara residents/property & assaults in Jenin,Jericho,Nablus.Civilian deaths in oPt incl of Israeli settlers (though their presence is illegal)& extrajudicial killing of alleged perpetrators must also be investigated.Int'l Criminal Court

In 1974, the United Nations defined the act of aggression as ANY ANNEXATION. #Israel, last week, subordinated the entirety of occupied #Palestinian territory to its metropolitan government and internal law, a move tantamount to annexation. It was met with international silence. Not a word.

Traveling the length of Europe, I'm repeatedly asked about a possible connection between #Israel's constitutional overhaul and the annexation of occupied #Palestinian territory. At times, challenged as to such an intention. So I'll let Bezalel Smotrich explain his plans:

Independent expert Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt: "The wave of deadly violence sweeping through the occupied #WestBank this year is the inexorable consequence of an acquisitive and repressive occupation with no end in sight... Tolerating annexation would legitimise aggression."

Did you know? Olive trees isolated by the Israeli Barrier in the northern West Bank have 60% less yield than those on the more accessible side, where ploughing, pruning, fertilizing and pest-and-weed management can be done regularly. #BackToTheWall20 ochaopt.org/backtothewall20

90 days since #Israel's 37th government took office - defined by a political and legislative agenda centered on the suppression of #Palestinian self-determination - let's look at what it has accomplished to date. In short, it is alarming:

Grateful that UN Human Rights Council expert on occupied #Palestinian territory, Dr. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt raised the question of self defense claimed by an occupying power, #Israel. My own thoughts follow:

If we needed more proof that #Israel has unlawfully annexed #Palestinian territory, comes the 2024 budget allocation. 25.69% of Israel's national surface road development budget (circa 1.9 billion USD) is dedicated to incorporating the occupied West Bank to its own territory

This morning #Israel's defense forces convened an international conference on the law of armed conflict. This glimpse into the program reveals that "property destruction" is high on the agenda. I was not invited, but nonetheless, let me share my thoughts:

This draft bill cannot be construed as anything but a direct strike against civil society, one that penalizes entities that have the "audacity" to hold the government accountable for its actions in the oPt. We need to protect civic space, not crush it.