Arab‑Islamic Ministerial Committee Condemns Knesset Move to Impose ‘Israeli Sovereignty’ Over Occupied West Bank

In a strong rebuke, the Joint Arab Islamic Ministerial Committee has condemned the Israeli Knesset’s recent approval of a declaration advocating for the imposition of so‑called “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank, calling the vote a dangerous escalation that violates international law.

The committee, speaking in unison with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), declared that Israel holds no sovereign rights over Palestinian territories—both the West Bank and East Jerusalem—and stressed that the motion represents a blatant effort to entrench a colonial occupation, further undermining prospects for a two‑state solution

Palestinian leadership in Ramallah denounced the Knesset resolution, stating that it breaches “all resolutions of international legitimacy and international law,” and warned that such unilateral action erodes regional peace and the Palestinian right to statehood within the 1967 borders

Jordanian officials also decried the vote, labelling it a “flagrant violation of international law” that strikes at the heart of a two‑state settlement

Frame‑by‑frame, drafted by lawmakers from Israel’s ruling coalition, the declaration asserts that regions in the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, are an inseparable part of the historical Jewish homeland. Backed by 71 Knesset members, the motion is non‑binding—but the Arab‑Islamic Committee cautioned against overlooking its serious implications

Reference was also made to authoritative international judgments—such as the International Court of Justice’s 2004 advisory opinion and the Fourth Geneva Convention—as the committee affirmed that the annexation of occupied land stands in direct contravention of established international standards

The committee urged the global community—particularly the United Nations and influential world powers—to step up diplomatic and political pressure on Israel to retract the declaration, halt any territorial expansion, and recommit to the two‑state framework. Without such action, it warned, regional stability and prospects for peaceful coexistence risk being irreversibly damaged

With tensions already heightened over settlement growth, forced displacement and incursions into holy sites, members of the Arab‑Islamic bloc emphasised that proactive and lawful countermeasures are vital to uphold Palestinian rights and preserve the fragile foundations of peace in the Middle east