Two Paths
One Frozen in Time and in Law
Whereas the other through embrace and with much caring for our poor
Asserts no child be favoured, be favoured more to climb
but that each be blessed in an equal part
that is on those matters kinship, blind
For through the hand of the Father
a Father freshly blind
Love came to the world, to declare this world is mine
Bespoke a care for all her living
and a care, in every place
With an apprehension for tomorrow, lest we deny this grace
Article 2 The Mandatory shall be responsible for placing the country under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the Mandate for Palestine – League of Nations (12 August 1922) establishment of the Jewish national home, as laid down in the preamble, and the development of self-governing institutions, and also for safeguarding the civil and religious rights of all the inhabitants of Palestine, irrespective of race and religion. [ From the 1922 League of Nations Mandate document – that continues to guide the United Nations and our International Law, on the topic of Palestine-Israel’s future. ]
In June 2020, Israel’s Supreme Court struck down retrospective Israeli law – legalising about 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.
A nine-judge panel voted to repeal a 2017 measure, under which settlers could remain on land if they built there without prior knowledge of Palestinian ownership, or if homes were built at Israeli state direction. Eight voted in favour and one against. Chief Justice Esther Hayut wrote in the panel’s ruling that the law: …unequally infringes on the property rights of Palestinian residents while giving preference to the proprietary interests of Israeli settlers. [ Reference: Reuters, Rami Ayyub, writing from Tel Aviv – June 10, 2020: ‘Israel’s Supreme Court strikes down law legalising settlements on private Palestinian land’. ]