RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and 18 other countries have strongly condemned the recent Israeli decisions expanding control over parts of the occupied West Bank, warning that the measures violate international law and jeopardize the prospects for a two-state solution and regional peace.
In a joint statement issued Monday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, Brazil, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain — along with the secretary generals of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — addressed the latest Israeli measures concerning the occupied West Bank.
They denounced what they described as sweeping changes that “reclassify Palestinian land as so-called Israeli ‘state land,’ accelerating illegal settlement activity, and further entrenching Israeli administration.”
The ministers said Israel’s settlement policies and related administrative decisions constitute “a flagrant violation of international law,” citing previous United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, according to Arab News.
“These latest decisions are part of a clear trajectory that aims to change the reality on the ground and to advance unacceptable de facto annexation,” the statement said.
“They also undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, including the 20-point plan for Gaza, and threaten any meaningful prospect of regional integration.”
The ministers called on Israel to immediately reverse the measures, respect its international obligations and refrain from actions that would permanently alter the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian Territory.
They said the decisions follow what they termed an unprecedented acceleration of Israel’s settlement policy, including the approval and tender publication of the E1 project — a controversial development plan seen as further fragmenting Palestinian territory.
“Such actions are a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian State and the implementation of the two-state solution,” the statement said.
The ministers reiterated their rejection of any steps aimed at altering the demographic composition, character or status of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. “We oppose any form of annexation,” they said.
The joint statement also expressed concern over rising settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, describing the escalation as “alarming.” The ministers urged Israel to end such violence and ensure accountability for those responsible.
“We reaffirm our commitment to taking concrete steps, in accordance with international law, to counter the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestinian territory and policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation,” the statement said.
With the holy month of Ramadan underway, the ministers stressed the importance of preserving the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, while recognizing the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship in safeguarding them.
They condemned what they described as repeated violations of the status quo in Jerusalem, warning that such actions pose a threat to regional stability.
The signatories reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions, and grounded in the 4 June 1967 borders.
Referring to the New York Declaration, they said ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains essential for regional peace, stability, and integration.
“Only by realizing an independent, sovereign and democratic Palestinian State can coexistence among the region’s peoples and states be achieved,” the statement said.
The ministers also called on Israel to immediately release tax revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority, stressing that the funds are vital for providing basic services in Gaza and the West Bank.
They noted that under the Paris Protocol, the revenues must be transferred to the Palestinian Authority and warned that continued withholding of funds further exacerbates the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the Palestinian population.
