Israel’s ‘Prawer Plan’ will see between 40,000 and 70,000 Bedouin citizens removed from their homes in South of the occupied territories.
The plan has triggered accusations of “ethnic cleansing” and “discrimination” from activists groups.
UK-based charity the Palestine Solidarity Campaign says the plan heralds “the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes and land, and systematic discrimination and separation.”
The group published a letter in the Guardian on November 29 condemning the plan and urging the UK government to act. The letter contains the signatures of 50 public figures supporting the cause.
The document calls for immediate action from the British government, urging harsh measures rather than the usual diplomatic rhetoric.
“There can be no ‘business as usual’ with a state which is preparing to ethnically cleanse 70,000 people. It’s time to start challenging Israel’s racism and apartheid policies,” the activist group wrote in the letter.
In support of the letter mass protests have been planned across the United Kingdom on Saturday.
The “Day of Rage” demonstrations will be held in Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Lambeth, as well as a number of locations in central London. In addition, Palestinians in Israel are staging mass demonstrations against the Prawer Plan to draw international attention.
Despite opposition to the plan, the Israeli regime is pushing ahead and is expected to vote on the initiative before the end of the year.
The UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People calling on Israel to call off plans to expand building in the settlements.
Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to restart peace talks this summer after a three-year diplomatic stalemate.
In spite of the revival of negotiations, very little headway has been made on some of the most pressing issues obstructing a peace agreement.
The Palestinian Authority has slammed Israel’s plans to continue expanding settlements as the main reason of failure of talks.
SHI/SHI