Cairo: A collective of international foreign ministers and high-ranking officials have issued a joint statement denouncing recent Israeli actions that reportedly expand Israeli control over the West Bank. The statement is a unified stance from the Foreign Ministers of countries including Egypt, France, Denmark, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Luxembourg, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the Secretary Generals of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the declaration condemns, in the strongest terms, the Israeli decisions which introduce extensive extensions to what is described as unlawful control over the West Bank. The statement highlights actions such as the reclassification of Palestinian land to Israeli 'state land' and the acceleration of settlement activities deemed illegal under international law. It further asserts that these actions violate United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.
The joint statement emphasizes that these measures are part of a trajectory aimed at changing the territorial reality and effecting de facto annexation, undermining efforts for peace and regional stability. The ministers urge the Israeli government to reverse these policies immediately, adhere to international obligations, and avoid any permanent changes to the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian Territory.
The officials reference the acceleration of Israel's settlement policy, including the approval of the E1 project, as a direct threat to the viability of a Palestinian State and the implementation of the two-state solution. They reiterate their opposition to any attempts to alter the demographic composition and status of Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967, calling for an end to settler violence and accountability for those responsible.
The statement reaffirms a commitment to counter illegal settlement expansion and policies of displacement and annexation, particularly during the Holy Month of Ramadan. It stresses the importance of preserving the status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, recognizing the Hashemite custodianship's historic role. The ministers also call for the release of withheld tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, as per the Paris Protocol, which are critical for public services in Gaza and the West Bank.
The ministers collectively stress their dedication to achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution, in alignment with the Arab Peace Initiative and UN resolutions based on the 1967 borders. They assert that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential for regional peace, stability, and integration, and stress the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian State.