Muslim, European countries condemn Israeli West Bank expansion
Foreign ministers demand reversal of land reclassification and release of Palestinian tax revenues
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia and a coalition of countries have condemned Israel’s recent decisions extending control over the West Bank, calling them illegal and destabilizing.
The joint statement, issued by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Brazil, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, alongside the Secretaries-General of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, denounced actions that “reclassify Palestinian land as Israeli ‘state land,’ accelerate settlement activity, and deepen Israeli administrative control.”
The ministers described Israel’s settlement policy and related decisions as “a clear violation of international law, including UN Security Council resolutions and the 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.”
They warned that the measures form part of a trajectory aimed at de facto annexation, undermining peace efforts and threatening regional integration initiatives, including the 20-point plan for Gaza.
The statement urged Israel to immediately reverse the measures, comply with international obligations, and avoid any action that would permanently alter the legal or administrative status of the Palestinian territories.
Officials specifically criticized the approval of the E1 project and the publication of its tenders as deliberate attacks on Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution.
The ministers reaffirmed their opposition to all attempts to change the demographic composition or legal status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and condemned settler violence against Palestinians.
They called on Israel to hold perpetrators accountable and described the recent escalation in the West Bank as “alarming.”
The statement emphasized preserving the status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites during Ramadan, highlighting the historic Hashemite custodianship, and criticized repeated violations that threaten regional stability.
Finally, the ministers demanded the immediate release of Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel under the Paris Protocol, stressing that these funds are essential for providing basic services in Gaza and the West Bank.
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