In a unified international stance, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, along with Indonesia and Pakistan, 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 eight countries considered this move a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions.
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, and UN Security Council resolutions, most notably Resolution 242, prohibit the acquisition of territory by force. The Fourth Geneva Convention also affirms that an occupying power may not transfer its own population into the territory it occupies. The recent Israeli decision to register these confiscated Palestinian lands in the name of the State of Israel is the first step of its kind on this scale since 1967, aimed at legitimizing the status quo and expanding illegal settlements.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
This decision has serious repercussions on multiple levels. Domestically , it directly undermines the internationally agreed-upon two-state solution, as it further encroaches on the land that is supposed to form the basis of a future viable, sovereign, and geographically contiguous Palestinian state. It also threatens to displace more Palestinians from their land and exacerbates their already difficult daily lives under occupation.
Regionally , the decision poses a challenge to Arab states seeking a just and comprehensive peace in the region. The signatory states warned that such unilateral actions undermine peace efforts and fuel tension and instability throughout the Middle East. The decision also puts pressure on diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states, including those with which it has peace agreements.
On the international level , this move is considered a challenge to the international community and its institutions, and a complete disregard for international conventions and laws. The joint statement stressed the need for the international community, particularly the Security Council, to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security, and to take decisive measures to halt these Israeli violations and compel Israel to respect resolutions of international law, thereby guaranteeing the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
