Don’t Label Israeli Settlement Products. Ban Them

November 15 marks 31 years since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. A courageous document of national sentiments mixed with pragmatism, in which the Palestine National Council, the PLO's legislative body, declared the State of Palestine's independence on the 1967 borders, and its commitment to international law and all United Nations resolutions.

So far, this has been the only real concession, a historic compromise, made by either side towards achieving peace in the Middle East.

Now is a time when many question the viability of the two-state solution – and others try to redefine its elements. It's more important than ever to remember the basic requirements of any political solution ensuring a just and lasting peace in our region.

The main reason why many believe that the two-state solution is no longer possible is because of Israel's colonial settlements, a systematic Israeli policy since 1967. 

This policy is founded on the constant creation of facts on the ground, aimed at its irreversibility. It is designed to make it impossible for the people of Palestine to exercise their inalienable rights, notably our right to self-determination.

That aim has been understood by most international bodies, including the conclusion of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the Wall in 2004. Under international law, the policy of colonial-settlements is tantamount to a war crime.

But the question remains: What happens after such solid legal arguments against Israeli settlements? What did the international community do? Very little.