Monday, 25 May 2026
Arab countries condemn Israeli moves to extend sovereignty over occupied West Bank
A coalition of Arab and Islamic states has issued a strong condemnation following the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a declaration supporting the imposition of “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank—a move widely regarded as a breach of international law.
In a joint statement, the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, described the decision as a “blatant and unacceptable violation” of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including 242, 338, and 2334. These resolutions affirm that measures to legitimize the occupation, including settlement activity since 1967, are without legal basis.
The group emphasized that Israel has “no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” including East Jerusalem, and stressed that unilateral actions cannot alter the legal standing of these areas. They warned that such moves risk escalating tensions already heightened by ongoing violence and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The statement urges the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to “fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities” by acting to halt what they describe as “illegal policies” that undermine the peace process and the prospect of a two-state solution.
Reaffirming their commitment to international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, the signatories reiterated their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.