Türkiye, Arab League, OIC, 18 nations condemn Israeli West Bank moves

Türkiye, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and 18 other countries issued a joint statement Monday condemning "in the strongest terms" recent Israeli decisions to expand unlawful control over the West Bank. The statement warns that measures reclassifying Palestinian land as Israeli "state land," accelerating settlement activity, and entrenching Israeli administration represent a dangerous escalation.

Flagrant Violation of International Law

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Brazil, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and others, alongside the OIC and Arab League, stressed that Israeli settlements constitute "a flagrant violation of international law," including previous UN Security Council resolutions and the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion. "These latest decisions are part of a clear trajectory that aims to change the reality on the ground and to advance unacceptable de facto annexation," the statement warned, undermining peace efforts and threatening regional integration prospects.

Settlement Acceleration and Two-State Solution

The statement specifically highlighted approval of the E1 project and its tender publication as evidence of "unprecedented acceleration" in settlement policy. "Such actions are a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian State and the implementation of the two-State Solution," the ministers declared. They reiterated rejection of measures altering the demographic composition, character, and status of Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, stating categorically: "We oppose any form of annexation."

Call for Accountability and Action

The ministers demanded an end to settler violence against Palestinians, urging Israel to hold perpetrators accountable. They emphasized preserving the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem's holy sites, particularly during Ramadan, warning repeated violations threaten regional stability. The statement also urged Israel to immediately release withheld tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority under the 1994 Paris Protocol, funds vital for providing basic services in Gaza and the West Bank. Reaffirming commitment to a two-state solution based on relevant UN resolutions and the June 4, 1967 lines, the ministers concluded: "Only by realizing an independent, sovereign and democratic Palestinian State can coexistence among the region's peoples and states be achieved."