Arab and Islamic countries have condemned “in the strongest terms” Israel's security cabinet's approval of measures that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land, while granting Israeli authorities expanded enforcement powers over Palestinians.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar said the moves aimed at “accelerating attempts at its illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people”.
“The ministers expressed their absolute rejection of these illegal actions, which constitute a blatant violation of international law, undermine the two-state solution, and represent an assault on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to realise their independent and sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital. Such actions also undermine the continuing efforts for peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
They renewed their call to the international community to fulfil its legal and moral responsibilities and to compel Israel to halt its escalation in the occupied West Bank and the inciting statements of its officials.
Quoting Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz reported on Sunday that the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens from buying land in the West Bank.
The decisions “are intended to remove decades-old barriers, repeal discriminatory Jordanian legislation and enable accelerated development of settlement on the ground”, the Israeli ministers said.
They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites and expanding supervision and enforcement in areas under Palestinian Authority administration, including matters related to environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and amounted to de facto annexation.
Jordanian King Abdullah II told Mr Abbas during a meeting to "discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories" that the kingdom condemns "illegal measures aimed at entrenching settlements and imposing Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank", a Royal Palace statement said.
"His Majesty underscored Jordan’s categorical rejection of any decisions that violate the just and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and their right to establish their independent state on the basis of the two-state solution," the statement said.
Palestine's Arab League envoy, Mohannad Al Aklouk, on Monday requested an emergency meeting of the Cairo-based group to discuss the new measures and chart a plan of action to combat them. A date for the meeting, which will be at the level of permanent representatives, has not been announced.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called the decision a “real existential threat” for Palestinians and called for escalation across the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry said Israel's moves “aggravate the already deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, hinder the restoration of calm and stability, and undermine any genuine prospects for reviving the peace process”.
Jordan's Foreign Ministry said the decisions were “aimed at imposing illegitimate Israeli sovereignty” and encouraged “the perpetuation of cycles of violence and conflict in the region”.
The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington. Mr Abbas urged Mr Trump and the UN Security Council to intervene.
Mr Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at their territory. Mr Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, has described the establishment of any Palestinian state as a security threat.
Most world powers deem Israeli settlements on land the country captured in a 1967 war illegal, with several UN Security Council resolutions having called on Israel to halt all settlement activity. Israel disputes the view that such outposts are unlawful and refers to biblical and historical ties to the land.
The construction of settlements, including some built without official Israeli authorisation, has increased under Israel's far-right governing coalition, fragmenting the West Bank and cutting off Palestinian towns and cities from each other. Last year, 19 new settlements were approved in the West Bank.
Hundreds of Palestinians have been driven off their land by Israeli settlers in recent weeks in the worst such violence since 2023, the UN said this month.
