Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries condemn the statements of the US ambassador to Israel
Foreign ministries of several Arab and Islamic countries, most notably Saudi Arabia, expressed their strong condemnation and denunciation of the recent statements made by the US Ambassador to Israel. The list of countries issuing condemnations included Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Syria, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Bahrain. Major regional bodies such as the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also joined the chorus of categorical rejection of these statements.
Violation of international law and UN legitimacy
These condemnations came in response to the US ambassador's remarks, which implicitly accepted Israel's imposition of sovereignty over occupied Arab territories, specifically in the West Bank. Official statements from these countries affirmed that such positions constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter, which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force. These developments come at a time of heightened sensitivity in the region regarding any alteration to the legal and historical status of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
Historical context and peace references
Historically, the international community, based on relevant Security Council resolutions (such as Resolutions 242 and 338), agrees that the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem are occupied territories, and that any unilateral measures to alter their status are null and void. The unified Arab and Islamic position is based on the Arab Peace Initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, which clearly states that a comprehensive and just peace is a strategic option achievable through a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
This conflicted with efforts to de-escalate tensions and peace plans
The ministries stressed in their statements that these remarks directly contradict international efforts to contain the escalation, including the vision presented within the comprehensive plans to end the conflict in Gaza and the region. They indicated that accepting the logic of annexation or settlement expansion undermines the foundations of the two-state solution and disrupts the political process aimed at providing a horizon for sustainable peace. The condemning states considered that legitimizing expansionist policies does not serve the security of the region, but rather fuels anger and extremism and violence, instead of promoting the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence advocated by the countries of the region.
The unwavering position: No sovereignty for the occupation
The Arab and Islamic states reaffirmed their unequivocal position that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory. They expressed their complete rejection of any attempts to annex parts of the West Bank or to geographically and demographically separate it from the Gaza Strip. They also warned of the dangers of continued settlement activity, which fragments the future Palestinian state, and called on the international community and the US administration to uphold their responsibilities in compelling Israel to cease these provocative practices.
A call to end the occupation
The statement concluded by reaffirming the unwavering commitment to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent and sovereign state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It stressed that the only path to achieving security and stability in the Middle East lies in ending the occupation of all Arab territories, in accordance with agreed-upon international resolutions.
