The foreign ministers of eight countries, including Saudi Arabia, issued a joint statement strongly condemning Israel’s recent decision to designate large swaths of land in the occupied West Bank as “state land.” The signatory states—Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan—described the move as a “flagrant violation of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy.”.
Historical background and context of the decision
The roots of this conflict lie in the 1967 war, in which Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Since then, the international community has considered these territories “occupied territories” under international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own population into the territory it occupies. Despite this, Israel has continued to build and expand settlements, a move considered illegal by most of the world and a major obstacle to peace. The recent decision to register these lands as “state lands” represents a dangerous escalation, as it aims to legitimize the seizure of Palestinian land and facilitate unprecedented settlement expansion since the beginning of the occupation.
The importance of the decision and its expected impact
This decision has profound repercussions on multiple levels. Locally , it directly undermines Palestinian hopes for an independent and viable state, as land confiscation and settlement expansion fragment the West Bank and make it impossible to establish geographical contiguity between its cities and villages. It also threatens to displace more Palestinian families and exacerbates their daily suffering under occupation.
Regionally , this move comes at a sensitive time, as some Arab states seek to normalize relations with Israel. Such unilateral actions place immense pressure on these countries and provoke widespread public anger, potentially derailing regional peace efforts and exacerbating instability in the Middle East. The joint condemnation from influential countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and Turkey reflects the extent of regional concern regarding these policies.
Internationally , this decision represents a blatant challenge to the international community and UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 2334, which demanded that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities. Proceeding with these measures undermines the credibility of international law and jeopardizes the two-state solution, which remains the internationally agreed-upon basis for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The joint statement emphasizes the need for the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by pressuring Israel to halt these violations and return to the path of serious negotiations.
