Saudi Arabia on Friday strongly condemned Israeli plans to advance settlement construction around the occupied city of Jerusalem and block internationally backed efforts to establish a sovereign Palestinian state.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israel’s moves violate international law and the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. The ministry accused the Israeli government of pursuing “illegal expansionist policies” that obstruct the peace process and threaten the viability of a two-state solution.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also denounced Israel’s approval of 3,400 new settlement units in the West Bank, calling the occupation and settlement activities illegal and demanding an immediate end to them. The bloc said Israel’s actions amount to “systematic crimes” that undermine peace efforts and entrench annexation plans.
The condemnation follows remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who rejected the two-state solution and vowed to continue settlement expansion. Smotrich said the new construction would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state, while Sa’ar claimed such a state “will not happen” in the land of Israel.
Saudi Arabia urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council’s permanent members, to take immediate action to protect Palestinian rights, stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, and ensure compliance with UN resolutions and international law.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israel’s moves violate international law and the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. The ministry accused the Israeli government of pursuing “illegal expansionist policies” that obstruct the peace process and threaten the viability of a two-state solution.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also denounced Israel’s approval of 3,400 new settlement units in the West Bank, calling the occupation and settlement activities illegal and demanding an immediate end to them. The bloc said Israel’s actions amount to “systematic crimes” that undermine peace efforts and entrench annexation plans.
The condemnation follows remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who rejected the two-state solution and vowed to continue settlement expansion. Smotrich said the new construction would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state, while Sa’ar claimed such a state “will not happen” in the land of Israel.
Saudi Arabia urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council’s permanent members, to take immediate action to protect Palestinian rights, stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, and ensure compliance with UN resolutions and international law.
