Joint statement condemning unilateral actions
In a unified international stance, the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia issued a joint statement condemning in the strongest terms Israel’s continued illegal policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories. The statement warned that these actions, including settlement expansion and attempts to annex land in the West Bank, fuel violence and seriously undermine the prospects for a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
Historical background and context of the conflict
The settlement issue has its roots in the 1967 war, after which Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Since then, successive Israeli governments have pursued a policy of building and expanding settlements in the occupied territories, a practice considered illegal under international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own population into the territory it occupies. The UN Security Council has affirmed the illegality of these settlements in numerous resolutions, most notably Resolution 2334 of 2016, and demanded an immediate halt to all settlement activity, deeming it a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution.
The importance of the statement and its potential effects
This joint statement is particularly significant because it brings together influential regional states in the Arab and Muslim worlds, reflecting a broad consensus against Israeli policies. Domestically, these policies fragment Palestinian territory and confiscate resources, making the establishment of a viable Palestinian state virtually impossible. Regionally, the continuation of these practices fuels instability and threatens to escalate the conflict, negatively impacting the security of the entire region. Internationally, the statement represents diplomatic pressure on Israel, calling on influential international powers and the international community to uphold their responsibilities in enforcing international law and compelling Israel to cease its violations.
A call to adhere to international law and the two-state solution
The signatory states affirmed their absolute rejection of these measures, which violate the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent and sovereign state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The statement emphasized that the two-state solution, based on international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace, and called upon the international community to take concrete steps to salvage this solution before it is too late.
