Wednesday 13/November/2024 – 07:30 AM
A number of Arab countries condemned the statements of the Israeli Finance Minister, who belongs to the extreme right-wing movement, Bezalel Smotrich, in which he said the day before Monday that he hoped that Israel would expand its sovereignty to include… West Bank occupied territory in 2025, and that he will push the government towards communicating with the administration of President-elect Donald Trump to gain Washington’s support.
On Tuesday, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported from unnamed sources that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in closed meetings that the issue of annexing the West Bank to Israel “must return to the agenda” with US President-elect Donald Trump taking office, early on. Next year.
Smotrich, who also plays the role of supervising settlers in the Defense Ministry as part of the ruling coalition agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he hopes the incoming Trump administration will recognize the Israeli effort to impose sovereignty.
Separately, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that while no decision has been taken in this regard, the issue may be raised in talks with the next US administration.
The statements of Israeli officials indicate extremist intentions to annex Palestinian lands, which the whole world considers a penalty from the State of Palestine, to Israeli sovereignty, flouting international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions, thus threatening plans for a two-state solution and any hopes for peace.
Egypt: Clearly reflects the Israeli trend that refuses to adopt the peace option
Egypt condemned in the strongest terms the extremist statements by Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Minister of Finance, calling for the imposition of Israeli sovereignty and settlement expansion in the West Bank in blatant violation of international law, international humanitarian law and all relevant Security Council resolutions, in addition to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
It stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that these irresponsible and extremist statements from a member of the Israeli government clearly reflect the Israeli tendency to refuse to adopt the option of peace in the region, the absence of an Israeli partner capable of making courageous decisions to bring about peace, and the presence of an insistence on adopting a policy of arrogance, which is the same policy that brought the region into conflict. The current cycle of conflict.
Saudi Arabia: Encouraging wars and producing more extremism
While the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s strong warning of the danger of the statements, stressing that they undermine peace efforts, including the two-state solution, encourage wars, produce more extremism, and multiply the threat to the security and stability of the region.
The Kingdom affirmed that these statements are a blatant violation of international laws and relevant UN resolutions, and perpetuate the occupation and expansion of the seizure of lands by force, which constitutes a dangerous precedent, stressing that the consequences of continued international failure go beyond the borders of this crisis to affect the legitimacy and credibility of the rules of the international system, and threaten its continuity.
UAE: We must put an end to practices that threaten the two-state solution
The UAE condemned in the strongest terms Smotrich’s statements, and expressed its categorical rejection of all provocative statements and measures aimed at changing the legal situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, and all practices that violate international legitimacy resolutions, which threaten more dangerous escalation and tension in the region, and hinder efforts to achieve peace and stability.
The Ministry stressed the need to support all regional and international efforts to revive the peace process in the Middle East, as well as putting an end to the illegal practices that threaten the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It also reiterated that the UAE is steadfast in its commitment to promoting peace and justice and realizing the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.
Jordan: Extremist racism and incitement
Jordan condemned in the strongest terms the statements, describing them as racist and extremist incitement. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said that this call is a blatant violation of international law and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to realize their independent, sovereign state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital.
It stressed that these illegal Israeli statements and actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and affirms that all Israeli settlement activities In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, it is illegal under international law, in addition to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which affirmed the illegality of The Israeli occupation, Israeli settlements, and their annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory.”
Aboul Gheit: Political absurdity
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, condemned in the strongest terms the extremist statements, describing them as political absurdity.
Aboul Gheit called on the international community to strongly confront this extremist approach, which will only result in igniting more fires in the region and sparking new waves of extremism and violence.
