Thirty-one countries, led by Türkiye, have collectively denounced statements from the Israeli Prime Minister regarding his vision of a larger Israel.
Arab and Islamic Nations Unite Against Israeli Settlement Expansion and "Greater Israel"
A joint statement released on Friday by foreign ministers from 31 Arab and Islamic countries strongly condemns Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements regarding "Greater Israel" and Israeli settlement expansion policies.
The ministers view Netanyahu's vision of "Greater Israel"—which implies expansionist policies and settlement growth—as a colonial project that threatens the territorial integrity of Arab countries and the rights of Palestinians. They emphasize support for a negotiated two-state solution based on international law and UN resolutions, rejecting Israeli annexation and settlement activities as illegal and major obstacles to peace.
The joint statement reaffirms the participating nations' respect for international legitimacy and the Charter of the United Nations, particularly Article 2, paragraph 4, which prohibits the use of force or the threat thereof. It also references the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which underscores the illegality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory.
The ministers stress the need for the State of Palestine to assume governance responsibilities in the Gaza Strip. They call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, unconditional humanitarian access, and the lifting of Israel's blockade on the Strip.
The ministers strongly condemn the approval by Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the settlement plan in the 'E1' area and his radical racist statements rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. They describe Netanyahu's statements as a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security.
The statement emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The countries that issued the joint statement include Turkey, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The ministers also endorsed the statement by the secretaries-general of the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. They called on the international community, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council, to take immediate action against Israel's ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip and Occupied West Bank.
In summary, the predominant and current Arab and Islamic nations' stance is to officially oppose Israeli settlement expansion and Netanyahu's "Greater Israel" rhetoric, viewing it as a threat to regional stability and Palestinian rights, while continuing to advocate for a viable and just two-state solution under international law.
- Turkey, along with numerous other Arab and Islamic nations, has issued a joint statement condemning the expansionist policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, specifically his "Greater Israel" vision, as a threat to the territorial integrity of Arab countries and the rights of Palestinians.
- The statement, endorsed by bodies like the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, also strongly criticizes the approval of the settlement plan in the 'E1' area and the radical statements of Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich, considering them a direct threat to Arab national security, sovereignty, and regional peace.
- Further, these nations have called upon the international community, including the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to take immediate action against Israel's ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip and Occupied West Bank, reflecting their commitment to upholding international law and the principles outlined in the Charter of the United Nations.
