20 Arab, Islamic, and European countries strongly condemn Israel's recent decisions regarding the West Bank

SadaNews - On Monday evening, 20 Arab, Islamic, and European countries issued a joint statement condemning in the strongest terms a series of recent Israeli decisions that introduce extensive expansions to Israel's illegal control over the West Bank.

The statement was issued on behalf of the foreign ministers of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the Federative Republic of Brazil, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Egypt, Jordan, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the secretaries-general of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The statement deemed these decisions as a wide-ranging alteration of the classification of Palestinian land as so-called "Israeli state land," accelerating illegal settlement activities and reinforcing Israeli administration.

It affirmed that illegal Israeli settlements and decisions designed to reinforce them constitute a blatant violation of international law, including relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in 2024.

It stated: These recent decisions are part of a clear trajectory aimed at changing the reality on the ground and moving towards unacceptable de facto annexation, undermining ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region, including the twenty-point plan regarding Gaza, and threatening any real prospect for regional integration.

The foreign ministers of these countries called on the government of Israel to immediately retract these decisions, respect its international obligations, and refrain from taking any actions that would cause permanent changes to the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian land.

The statement noted that these decisions come in the wake of an unprecedented acceleration in Israeli settlement policy, including the approval of the E1 project and the issuance of its tenders. These measures constitute a direct and deliberate attack on the foundations for establishing a Palestinian state and implementing the two-state solution.

The foreign ministers reiterated their rejection of all measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character, and legal status of the occupied Palestinian land since 1967, including East Jerusalem. They also oppose any form of annexation.

The statement urged Israel to put an end to settler violence against Palestinians, including through holding those responsible for these violations accountable.

It reiterated the commitment of these countries to take concrete steps, in accordance with international law, to confront the expansion of illegal settlements in the Palestinian land and to address policies and threats of forced displacement and annexation.

The statement emphasized the importance of maintaining the existing historical and legal status in Jerusalem and its holy sites during Ramadan, acknowledging the special role of the historical Hashemite guardianship in this regard. It condemned the repeated violations of the status quo in Jerusalem, which pose a threat to regional stability.

The ministers called on Israel to immediately release the withheld tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, stressing that these revenues should be transferred to the Palestinian Authority according to the Paris Protocol, as they are vital for providing essential services to the Palestinian population in Gaza and the West Bank.

The statement also reaffirmed the firm commitment of these countries to achieving a fair, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant United Nations resolutions, and based on the borders of June 4, 1967. As stated in the New York Declaration, ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential for achieving peace, stability, and regional integration. Coexistence between the peoples and states of the region can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state.