In a rare joint statement, over a dozen nations warn that recent West Bank land reclassifications undermine regional peace and violate international law.
SHARJAH – A coalition of Arab and European nations, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, and Spain, has issued a unified condemnation of recent Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, denouncing them as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a step toward “unacceptable de facto annexation.”
The joint statement, released late Monday by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, was signed by the foreign ministers of Brazil, France, Spain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar, as well as the heads of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The statement specifically criticizes the Israeli cabinet’s February 15 decision to approve measures that tighten control over the West Bank and simplify the process for settlers to purchase land. Palestinian leaders have previously described such moves as a form of “de facto annexation” that erodes the possibility of a two-state solution.
“These changes are wide-ranging, reclassifying Palestinian land as so-called Israeli ‘state land’, accelerating illegal settlement activity, and further entrenching Israeli administration,” the statement read.
Undermining Peace Efforts
The signatories argued that these actions not only violate international legal norms but also actively damage diplomatic efforts in the region. The West Bank remains a central territory in the quest for a future independent Palestinian state. Currently, much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in specific areas administered by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
The joint statement warned that the settlements “undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region and threaten any meaningful prospect of regional integration.”
The unified stance from both Gulf states and major European powers signals growing international concern over the acceleration of settlement activity and its potential to destabilize an already volatile region.
