Saudi Arabia Spearheads Condemnation of Israeli Knesset's Motion to Annex West Bank
The Israeli move has sparked regional denunciation as a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Israeli Vote
On Wednesday, Knesset lawmakers voted in favor of a non-binding motion that demands the Israeli government to apply sovereignty over territories that make up the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
The motion, which got 71 votes against 13, described the territories of the occupied West Bank as 'an inseparable part of the historical homeland of the Jewish people,' according to the Times of Israel.
'This move would make it clear to the world that Israel will not accept solutions that involve dangerous territorial concessions,' the motion said.
The motion is part of the agenda that calls for the annexation of the West Bank. However, it is symbolic and will not impact the legal status of the West Bank. Saudi Condemnation
Following the declaration, Saudi Arabia on Thursday strongly denounced the motion, which represents a flagrant violation of international laws and UNSC resolutions.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that such Israeli provocative acts undermine efforts to establish peace through a two-state solution and emphasize Israel's insistence on sabotage and destruction.
Furthermore, the Kingdom stressed its categorical rejection of Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their rights, particularly their right to self-determination.
In the light of this, Saudi Arabia called on the international community to take decisive actions to implement UN resolutions that support the Palestinian people's right to live with dignity in an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Unified Position against Israeli Policies
Later on Thursday, Arab and Islamic nations joined Saudi Arabia in denouncing the Israeli motion. Saudi Arabia, alongside Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Türkiye, the UAE, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli declaration.
They called the motion a 'blatant and unacceptable violation of international law, and a flagrant breach of relevant UNSC resolutions, foremost among them Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), all of which affirm the invalidity of all measures and decisions that seek to legitimize the occupation, including settlement activities in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.' Rejecting Israeli Annexation
The signatories reiterated that 'Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' They also stressed that 'this unilateral Israeli move has no legal effect and cannot alter the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly East Jerusalem, which remains an integral part of the Territory.'
Moreover, the countries reaffirmed that 'such Israeli actions only fuel the growing tension in the region, which has been exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.' International Call
The signatories called on the international community, including the UNSC and all relevant stakeholders, to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities and take decisive actions against Israel's illegal policies designed to 'impose a fait accompli by force, undermining the prospects for a just and lasting peace, and the two-state solution.'
The countries also reiterated their commitment to the two-state solution based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and to the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Two-state Solution Conference
Saudi Arabia has long advocated Palestinian Statehood as a viable pathway to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In the light of this, Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on July 28-29, 2025, at the UN headquarters in New York.
The conference aims to chart a roadmap for a Palestinian State while guaranteeing Israel's security, in a bid to resolve the decades-old conflict. Palestinian Statehood
During the conference, more countries are expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine, most notably France and the UK. In a recent visit to the UK, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, emphasized support for the two-state solution.
'I believe in the future of the two-state solution as a basis for regional security architecture, which will enable Israel to live in peace and security alongside its neighbors,' Macron told the British parliament.
Similarly, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, reaffirmed the UK's commitment to a 'just political settlement of the Palestinian issue.'
Both Macron and Starmer reiterated their commitment to recognizing Palestine. 'We reaffirm our commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state, as a contribution to a peace process. We will work together to support its development and the realization of a Two-State Solution,' they said in a joint statement.
Short link :
Post Views: 9
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
28 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Abubakr Al-Qirbi to Asharq Al-Awsat: Ali Abdullah Saleh Anticipated His Fate at the Hands of the Houthis
Former Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Abubakr Al-Qirbi reflected on the unraveling of Yemen's political landscape following 2004, the year that marked the beginning of a complex and eventually fatal relationship between the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthi movement. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat in the second and final part of an in-depth conversation, Al-Qirbi shares personal insights on the war, Iran's influence, the Arab Spring, and how Yemen's long-time ruler foresaw his tragic end. According to Al-Qirbi, Saleh first began to see the Houthis as a threat around the year 2000, when they started building external alliances, including with Iran and Libya, and shifting from religious activism to overt political mobilization. This culminated in the first armed conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthis in 2004. Al-Qirbi believes the Houthis' turn toward Iran was a direct consequence of the wars waged against them in Yemen. 'They sought a protector, and they found one in Iran,' he said, noting that Tehran's support came not only from the government but also from religious institutions. He recounted that he personally visited Iran twice to address Yemen's concerns, meeting both President Mohammad Khatami and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 'We stressed three things: Yemenis—Sunnis and Zaydis—had coexisted peacefully for centuries; regional peace depended on non-interference; and Iran needed to stop supporting the Houthis, even indirectly.' Tehran, for its part, assured him of its commitment to Yemen's stability but, Al-Qirbi implied, offered little practical restraint. Talk of Succession Reflecting on the 2006 elections, Al-Qirbi described them as a turning point: 'It was the first time Saleh truly earned his win, receiving 60 percent of the vote in a competitive race.' He insisted the process was largely free and fair, with credible international observers in attendance. These elections, however, intensified internal political strife. There was growing suspicion that Saleh was preparing his son for succession, a rumor that dogged his later years and stirred discontent among Yemenis and international stakeholders alike. The Arab Spring: Shock and Opportunity Yemen, like much of the Arab world, was caught off-guard by the speed and ferocity of the Arab Spring. Al-Qirbi acknowledges that while the regime anticipated regional change - particularly after 9/11 and increased US civil society activity - the spark from Tunisia was unexpected. 'Saleh wasn't surprised by the demands for reform,' Al-Qirbi noted, 'but he questioned the method. His position was that change should come through democratic institutions, not by toppling governments.' During the mass youth sit-ins and growing opposition movements, Al-Qirbi believes Saleh recognized the West's shifting stance. 'He realized that the US and others were now saying plainly: Saleh must go.' Despite this, the president insisted any transition should occur constitutionally, not through force. One of the most poignant moments in the interview comes when Al-Qirbi addresses Saleh's reaction to the downfall of fellow Arab leaders like Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. 'It deeply affected him,' Al-Qirbi said. 'These were men he knew personally. Watching them fall, especially so brutally, had a profound impact.' Saleh, according to Al-Qirbi, was aware of the cost of clinging to power. 'He could have crushed the protests with force. He had the means, but he chose not to, fearing the chaos it might unleash.' Ultimately, Saleh agreed to a Gulf-brokered deal to step down in 2011, ushering in Vice President Abed Rabbuh Mansour Hadi as his successor. From Vice President to Rival: The Hadi Transition Al-Qirbi was a strong supporter of Hadi's elevation to the presidency, arguing that his long service as vice president and his lack of overt political ambition made him a natural and unifying choice. But the relationship between the two men quickly deteriorated. 'Saleh began to feel that Hadi was sidelining him from the General People's Congress (GPC),' Al-Qirbi said. 'He felt betrayed, especially when Hadi began appointing his own loyalists to represent the party in the National Dialogue Conference.' This rift widened dramatically as Houthi forces advanced through northern Yemen. While some accused Saleh of allying with the Houthis to settle scores with political rivals, Al-Qirbi disputes this characterization. 'He never truly allied with them. At best, there was a tactical understanding, and even that crumbled once they reached Amran.' Al-Qirbi confirms that Saleh had urged Hadi to stop the Houthi advance before they reached Sana'a, a warning that went unheeded. 'Saleh expected the government to act, but it didn't. That was a pivotal moment.' The Fall of Sana'a and Saleh's Final Days When the Houthis seized Sana'a in 2014, Al-Qirbi was in the city. He recalls the shock that swept through the capital as government forces surrendered without resistance. 'Nobody expected it to happen so easily,' he said. Despite forming a brief partnership with the Houthis, Saleh grew increasingly uneasy. Al-Qirbi recounts how Houthi supervisors effectively controlled ministries, sidelining GPC ministers and eroding Saleh's influence. By 2017, tensions reached a breaking point. As Saleh prepared to commemorate the anniversary of the GPC's founding, Houthi forces viewed the event as a political threat. That same year, they killed him. 'Saleh anticipated it,' Al-Qirbi admits. 'He understood the risks of engaging with the Houthis and sensed early on that they were not true partners.' Al-Qirbi speaks of Saleh with a mix of admiration and reflection. 'He was a flexible leader, willing to engage with enemies, and he preferred dialogue over violence. Had he been a man of force, he could have crushed the protests. But he chose restraint.' Asked whether Saleh's long rule prevented the building of a true Yemeni state, Al-Qirbi acknowledges both internal constraints and missed opportunities. 'There were moments - after reunification, after the 1994 war, and especially after 2006 - where a stronger state could have been built. But like many revolutionary leaders, Saleh became too focused on power and too cautious to make drastic reforms.' On Yemen's famously complex tribal and political fabric, Al-Qirbi supports Saleh's infamous quote likening governance in Yemen to 'dancing on the heads of snakes.' He agrees, 'It's an accurate description. Balancing tribal, regional, political, and external interests is an impossible act.' Hope for Unity? Despite everything, Al-Qirbi remains cautiously optimistic about Yemen's future. 'Yemen must return to unity. Without it, there can be no long-term stability,' he insists. But he warns that foreign interference remains a significant obstacle. 'The day Yemenis are left to negotiate among themselves is the day peace becomes possible.' Asked whether the Houthis could be brought under the authority of a national government, he offers a realist's view: 'There are now three centers of power: Sana'a, Aden, and the internationally recognized government. None are truly sovereign in their decisions. But if dialogue is given a real chance - without outside manipulation - Yemenis will find a solution.'
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Israeli settlers attack Christian West Bank village
Israeli settlers attacked the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, torching cars and spray-painting threatening graffiti, the Palestinian Authority said Monday. 'Israeli colonial settlers launched a terror attack tonight on the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh (Ramallah), setting fire to Palestinian vehicles and spray-painting racist threats in Hebrew on homes and property,' the Ramallah-based authority wrote on X. A Taybeh resident, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, told AFP the attack occurred at about 2:00 am (2300 GMT), with at least two vehicles burned. They said one vehicle belonged to a journalist, while noting the damage appeared to target Palestinian property broadly. A photo shared by a Palestinian government agency on X showed graffiti on a Taybeh wall that read: 'Al-Mughayyir, you will regret,' referring to a nearby village that was also attacked by settlers earlier this year. The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling it 'settler terrorism.' Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also condemned it, writing on X: 'These extremist settlers may claim that God gave them the land. But they are nothing but criminals abhorrent to any faith.' Taybeh and its surroundings have experienced several bouts of settler violence in recent months, including an arson attack at an ancient Byzantine church. The village – home to about 1,300 mostly Christian Palestinians, many holding US dual citizenship – is known for its brewery, the oldest in the Palestinian territories. Settlers have attacked neighboring communities in recent months, resulting in three deaths, damage to Palestinian water wells and the displacement of at least one rural herding community. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The territory is home to about three million Palestinians and around 700,000 Israeli settlers, including about 200,000 in east Jerusalem. Last week, 71 members of Israel's 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, passed a motion calling on the government to annex the West Bank.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Israel says Gaza got 120 trucks of aid on day one of pause
JERUSALEM: Israel said Monday that more than 120 truckloads of food aid were distributed by the UN and aid agencies in the Gaza Strip on the first day of a partial pause in Sunday, Israel declared a 'tactical' pause in military operations in part of Gaza and promised to open secure routes for aid, urging humanitarian groups to step up food distribution.'Over 120 trucks were collected and distributed yesterday by the UN and international organizations,' COGAT, an Israeli defense ministry agency overseeing civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said in a post on X on Monday.
