
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.
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Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
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US used about a quarter of its high-end missile interceptors in Israel-Iran war, exposing supply gap
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Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
Two-State Solution Conf.: Saudi Arabia Leads Int'l Push for Palestine Recognition
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron The two-state solution advocates for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State along the 1967 borders (which involves the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip), with East Jerusalem as its capital. This solution has wide international support as it would grant the Palestinians their right of self-determination while ensuring Israel's security. Conference Goals Saudi Arabia and France want the conference to achieve concrete results on the ground with regards to the implementation of the two-state solution. To this end, the conference aims to chart a clear and irreversible pathway toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with UN resolutions. In the light of this, the Saudi diplomat and head of the Kingdom's negotiating team, Manal Radwan, said that the high-level meeting must 'chart a course for action, not reflection.' She added that the efforts must be 'anchored in a credible and irreversible political plan that addresses the root cause of the conflict and offers a real path to peace, dignity and mutual security.' Advancing Two-State Solution The conference focuses on four key pillars to pave the way for the implementation of the two-state solution, according to Arab News. The first focuses on rallying more countries to recognize Palestine. Meanwhile, the second addresses normalization and regional integration, which will be conditional on achieving credible progress toward Palestinian statehood. The third pillar discusses the reform of Palestinian governance, while the fourth one addresses the disarmament and exclusion of Hamas from any role in the future Palestinian State. The conference also discusses the efforts of 8 working groups in areas such as security arrangements, the economic viability of a Palestinian State, humanitarian action and post-war reconstruction. Palestine Recognition Currently, about 147 out of the 193 UN member states recognize the State of Palestine, which holds a non-member observer status at the UN General Assembly since November 2012. The two-state solution conference aims to encourage more countries to recognize the State of Palestine. On July 24, 2025, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, said that Paris would recognize the State of Palestine in September at the UN General Assembly – a historic announcement that came as a result of Saudi Arabia's intensive diplomatic efforts. 'We must build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region. There is no alternative,' Macron posted on X. However, the French announcement was met by rejection from the US and Israel, who are boycotting the conference, according to Reuters. Rallying Nations With this decision, France has become the first major Western power and G7 country to recognize Palestinian statehood, adding weight to the list of states recognizing Palestine. During an interview with the French newspaper, La Tribune Dimanche, France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said that Paris seeks to push other countries in the conference to join France in recognizing a Palestinian state. 'We will launch an appeal in New York so that other countries join us to initiate an even more ambitious and demanding dynamic that will culminate on September 21,' Barrot said. Saudi Arabia's Diplomatic Push Saudi Arabia has spearheaded a sustained diplomatic push for advancing the two-state solution and the recognition of the Palestinian State. In September 2024, Saudi Arabia launched the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, in partnership with Norway and the European Union (EU). Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan The Kingdom has also mobilized support for the two-state solution, with its efforts culminating in a series of Palestine recognition by countries, including Spain, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Armenia and the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Firm Stance Within this context, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, affirmed that the Kingdom's presidency of the two-state solution conference reflects its 'firm and longstanding stance on the Palestinian cause,' stressing Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. 'From this standpoint, the Kingdom, in partnership with France, is co-chairing the high-level conference at the ministerial level,' he told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). 'We look forward to advancing the implementation of relevant international resolutions calling for the establishment of two states, where the Palestinian people may enjoy their independent state, thereby achieving peace and stability for the region and fostering development and prosperity,' Prince Faisal said. Short link : Post Views: 58