Statement from 8 Countries Regarding Israeli "Violations" in the West Bank

SadaNews - Foreign ministers from 8 Arab and Islamic countries condemned in a statement issued on Tuesday, in the strongest terms, the Israeli decision to classify lands in the occupied West Bank as what is known as "State Lands."

The statement read: "The foreign ministers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Arab Republic of Egypt condemn in the strongest terms the decision issued by Israel to classify lands in the occupied West Bank as so-called State Lands, and the approval to initiate registration and settlement procedures for land ownership on a large scale in the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967."

The statement added: "This illegal step represents a serious escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, confiscating lands, entrenching Israeli control, and imposing an unlawful Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian land, undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinians."

The ministers affirmed that these actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, in addition to being a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, most notably Resolution 2334.

It continued: "This decision contradicts the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice regarding the legal consequences arising from Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, which emphasized the illegality of measures aimed at changing the legal, historical, and demographic status of the occupied Palestinian land, and the necessity to end the occupation and prohibit the acquisition of territory by force."

It added: "This step reflects an attempt to impose a new legal and administrative reality aimed at consolidating control over the occupied land, undermining the two-state solution, jeopardizing the prospects for establishing an independent and viable Palestinian state, and endangering the prospects of achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region."

The ministers called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to stop these violations, ensure respect for international law, and safeguard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to self-determination, end the occupation, and establish their independent sovereign state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.