The Israeli Knesset’s preliminary approval of two draft laws to annex the occupied West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement east of occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday sparked widespread condemnation, with many describing the move as a dangerous step that effectively paves the way for the formal annexation of parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. The decision was also denounced as a blatant challenge to international law and UN resolutions affirming the illegality of settlements.
اضافة اعلان
Both draft laws must still pass three additional readings before becoming legally binding.
Qatar condemned the Knesset’s approval of the annexation bill, calling it a “flagrant violation of the historical rights of the Palestinian people” and a challenge to international law and UN legitimacy. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and to act urgently to compel Israeli authorities to halt their expansionist and settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Saudi Arabia also condemned the Knesset’s move, reaffirming its total rejection of all settlement and expansionist violations adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities. Riyadh stressed the importance of the international community’s responsibility to enforce international legitimacy, end Israeli aggressions against Palestinian land and people, and advance the peace process based on the two-state solution to achieve security and stability in the region.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Al-Budaiwi, likewise expressed strong condemnation, asserting that such actions constitute a gross violation of international legitimacy and undermine global efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. He emphasized that these settlement practices flagrantly encroach upon the historical rights of the Palestinian people and violate international and UN laws.
Al-Budaiwi called on the international community to shoulder its legal and political responsibilities by pressuring the Israeli occupation authorities to cease such dangerous escalation measures, reiterating the GCC’s firm support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.
Meanwhile, Kuwait strongly condemned, in the harshest terms, the Knesset’s approval of the two draft laws aimed at imposing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry described the move as a blatant violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2234, which condemns Israeli settlements and affirms their illegality.
For its part, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Knesset’s approval to impose sovereignty over the occupied West Bank violates international law and is therefore “null and void.” The ministry described the move as a provocative step taken at a time when peace efforts in Gaza are still ongoing, warning that it threatens the already fragile security and stability of the region.
It added that the West Bank and East Jerusalem, both under Israeli occupation since 1967, constitute Palestinian territory, stressing that Israel must not be allowed to impose an unlawful fait accompli in the occupied West Bank. (Petra)
