Many countries have simultaneously criticized Israel's new measures related to the West Bank, saying that these steps increase tensions and seriously damage the prospects of a two-state solution.
The Israeli security cabinet recently approved, allowing Jewish citizens to buy land directly in the West Bank and expand Israel's control in areas currently managed by the Palestinian Authority. The new regulation does not require additional approval, but the effective date has not been announced.
Saudi Arabia and 7 Muslim-majority countries including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have issued a joint statement, strongly condemning the decisions they consider illegal, aimed at imposing Israel's illegal sovereignty in the occupied West Bank.
The statement said that these measures promoted settlement construction activities, creating a new legal and administrative status, thereby accelerating the risk of annexation and pushing Palestinians into relocation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, warning that changes are eroding the prospect of a two-state solution. The United Nations spokesman cited the conclusion of the International Court of Justice, affirming that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is against international law, and said that the current moves are destabilizing.
According to the plan, Israel will also transfer the right to license the construction of settlements in the city of Hebron from the Palestinian Authority to Israel, and strengthen control over two important religious sites in the southern West Bank, the Rachel Mausoleum near Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah said these decisions are aimed at deepening efforts to annex the West Bank. Mr. Ali Jarbawi, a Palestinian political scientist, said that the goal is to push Palestinians into disjointed areas, mainly large cities. Meanwhile, Mr. Yonatan Mizrachi of the Peace Now organization commented that the new steps not only promote annexation but also weaken the Palestinian Authority established under the Oslo agreements.
According to the figures, more than 500,000 Israelis are living in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, where there are about 3 million Palestinians, along with about 200,000 Israelis in East Jerusalem who have been annexed.
