MORE THAN 20 charities, trade unions, religious groups and civil-society organisations have spoken out against Israel’s plans to annex Palestinian land.

In a joint statement today they called urgently on public bodies to “uphold their ethical and legal responsibilities to ensure human rights and international law are respected.”

The Israeli government’s plans are “not only an attack on the rights and futures of Palestinians, but also against the very foundations of international law,” say the signatories, including the Archbishop of Wales, trade unions Unison, Unite, GMB and the NEU, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and the charity War on Want.

The Israeli government has said that it intends to annex around 30 per cent of Palestinian land in the West Bank.

PSC director Ben Jamal said: “As the United Arab Emirates moves to normalise relations with Israel — and with Donald Trump in the White House — it is more imperative than ever for the international community to send a clear message that Israel will be held accountable for its annexation plans and other continued human-rights abuses. 

“We must come together in standing up for international law.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Governments, businesses and public bodies all have a responsibility to ensure that none of their purchasing, procurement or investment decisions contribute to the occupation or the violation of Palestinian human rights.”

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We all have a duty to preserve international law, and hold Israel accountable for its blatant violations using all means available to us. 

“It is our ethical duty to stand in solidarity with Palestinians, and ensure our public investments are not contributing to Israel’s violation of their rights”.