Arab, Muslim States Condemn Knesset’s West Bank Annexation Bills

An Arab and Muslim-majority bloc issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning early Knesset votes on two bills that would extend “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank and to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Oman, The Gambia, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are the signatories, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar (Doha statement). The statement calls the steps a “blatant violation of international law” and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 and affirms that Israel has no sovereignty in the occupied Palestinian territory.

In another development, the Foreign Ministry in Oman issued the full English text of the joint statement, reiterating the position of the signatories and urging the world to put pressure on Israel to desist from unilateral actions and heed Palestinians’ rights to statehood along the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as the capital. This Omani statement indicates this is an unofficial English translation of the Arabic statement.

The Muslim World League also condemned initial endorsements, saying that the Israeli measures reflect “blatant contempt for international legitimacy” and undermine peace efforts. The statement was sourced from Riyadh Daily and attributed to MWL Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa.

The Knesset advanced the bills on first readings on Wednesday; one would extend Israeli law to West Bank land in general, and the other is aimed at the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Further committee work and additional readings would be required before either bill would become law, Reuters reported.

The joint statement also cites this week’s advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which ruled that United Nations relief efforts—namely by UNRWA—should be permitted by Israel and upheld bans on starvation and mass forcible transfer under international humanitarian law. The opinion, solicited at the request of the UN General Assembly, is not enforceable in a legal sense but carries political and moral weight. See the UN summary of the advisory proceedings and reporting by prominent news outlets for context.

Israel has long protested against such global descriptions of its legal commitments and territorial claims. Its official response to the current advisory opinion and the new condemnations was not immediately available.