Saudi Arabia condemns the confiscation of West Bank lands and calls for international action
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli occupation authorities' decision to approve the confiscation of vast areas of land in the occupied West Bank and designate them as "state land." The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed in an official statement that this measure constitutes a flagrant violation of all relevant international laws and UN resolutions, particularly Security Council resolutions that criminalize settlement activity and consider it a major obstacle to achieving peace.
This firm Saudi stance comes within the context of the Kingdom's continued rejection of Israel's expansionist settlement policies, which aim to alter the demographic and geographic reality in the occupied Palestinian territories. The policy of designating land as "state property" is one of the legal tools used by the occupation to seize Palestinian land, particularly in the Jordan Valley, paving the way for the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing ones. This leads to the fragmentation of the West Bank and prevents its geographical contiguity.
Historically, Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of countries defending Palestinian rights, spearheading the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which stipulated Israel's full withdrawal from the Arab territories occupied in 1967 in exchange for comprehensive peace. Riyadh views these unilateral Israeli steps as a systematic undermining of the chances of reviving the peace process and a sabotage of the international community's efforts to implement the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Regionally and internationally, this Israeli escalation carries serious repercussions, contributing to heightened tensions in the Middle East and fueling anger and resentment. The Kingdom has repeatedly warned that continued impunity and the absence of international accountability embolden the occupation to persist in its violations. In this regard, Saudi Arabia reiterated its call upon the international community, particularly the Security Council and influential states, to fulfill their responsibilities, put an end to these violations, and provide protection for the Palestinian people and their resources.
In conclusion, the Kingdom stressed that a just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through adherence to international law, and that the policy of imposing a fait accompli by force will not grant the occupation any legal or moral legitimacy on Palestinian lands, affirming its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to obtain their inalienable rights.
