The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities’ decision to confiscate large areas of land in the occupied West Bank and classify them as “state land” in preparation for expanding illegal settlements. The Kingdom affirmed that this measure constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions, and seriously undermines peace efforts and the two-state solution.
Historical background and political context
This Israeli move is part of a systematic and ongoing policy, implemented since the occupation of the West Bank in 1967, aimed at altering the demographic and geographic reality of the Palestinian territories. The United Nations and the international community consider the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, occupied territory, and all settlements built there are illegal under international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own population into the territory it occupies. Declaring land “state land” is a legal mechanism used by Israel to seize Palestinian land that was not officially registered in the land registry, thus facilitating its subsequent allocation for settlement projects.
Importance and expected impact
Domestically, this decision deprives Palestinians of their land and natural resources, limits their ability to expand urban and agricultural development, and contributes to the fragmentation of Palestinian territory and the isolation of cities and villages from one another, making the establishment of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state virtually impossible. Regionally, such unilateral measures exacerbate tensions and unrest in the region, undermine confidence in the peace process, and weaken regional and international initiatives aimed at achieving stability, most notably the Arab Peace Initiative championed by the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia's firm stance
In its statement, the Kingdom reiterated its absolute rejection of these illegal measures, affirming that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories. It emphasized that these practices do not negate the inherent right of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent and sovereign state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Kingdom called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and pressure Israel to cease its ongoing violations and respect international law, thereby ensuring the protection of the Palestinian people's rights and paving the way for a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
