Arab and Islamic condemnation of US statements regarding the West Bank
A wave of widespread condemnation from the Arab and Islamic world
The remarks made by the US ambassador to Israel sparked widespread anger and condemnation across the Arab and Muslim worlds. The foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, as well as Palestine, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia, all expressed their categorical rejection of these statements, which implied acceptance of Israel's control over occupied Arab territories, including the West Bank.
These condemnations were joined by major regional and international organizations, most notably the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which issued strongly worded statements affirming that such statements represent a serious provocation to the feelings of millions of Arabs and Muslims, and a deliberate undermining of the foundations of the peace process.
The historical and legal context of the case
These statements come in the context of a complex and sensitive issue rooted in the 1967 war, in which Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, and the Syrian Golan Heights. Since then, the international community, through a series of UN and Security Council resolutions, most notably Resolution 242, has affirmed the illegality of acquiring territory by force and called for Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories. International law also considers Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory illegal and a major obstacle to achieving peace.
Therefore, any statement by an international official, especially from a country the size of the United States, which is supposed to be an impartial sponsor of the peace process, that hints at legitimizing this reality, is considered a departure from the international consensus and a blatant disregard for legitimate Palestinian rights.
Expected impact on regional stability and peace efforts
Statements issued by countries and organizations warned that these dangerous pronouncements threaten to undermine any remaining chance of achieving a two-state solution, a solution that enjoys broad international support and is the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative. They emphasized that legitimizing the occupation and settlement activity will only exacerbate the conflict and increase tensions in an already unstable region, while also emboldening the Israeli government to continue its expansionist policies and unilateral actions.
Internationally, such positions undermine the credibility of the United States as a mediator in the conflict, portraying it as a party completely biased toward Israel, thus complicating future diplomatic efforts. They also directly contradict the visions and plans previously put forward by the US administration itself, which aimed to contain the escalation and create a political horizon for a comprehensive and just settlement.
Renewing commitment to Arab and Islamic principles
In concluding their statements, the Arab and Islamic states reaffirmed their principled and unwavering positions, stressing that Israel has no sovereignty over any of the Arab territories occupied in 1967. They emphasized the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only way to achieve security, stability and lasting peace in the Middle East region.
