Widespread Protests as Israel Claims West Bank Land as 'State Property'
A wave of condemnation and protests has emerged following the Israeli government’s claim over parts of the West Bank as “state land”. A number of countries have deemed the move potentially destabilising, warning it could trigger fresh tensions and worsen the political and security situation in the conflict zone.
The condemnation erupted after the Israeli government on Sunday (15 February) approved a proposal to register most land in the West Bank as “state property” should Palestinian residents be unable to prove ownership.
The policy has been described as the first step of its kind since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. The decision is widely seen as having the potential to ignite new tensions in the region.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the controversial proposal was put forward by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
The Palestinian Authority responded forcefully to the decision, warning that Israel’s move amounted to “de facto annexation” and constituted a violation of international law. The Palestinian Authority also urged international intervention to halt what it described as the beginning of a covert annexation process and the undermining of the foundations of a Palestinian state.
In its statement, the Palestinian Authority affirmed that Israel’s unilateral actions would confer no legitimacy over Palestinian land and would not alter the legal or historical status of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, as occupied territory under international law.
The Palestinian Authority called upon the international community, particularly the UN Security Council and the United States government, to intervene immediately to stop Israel’s actions and compel Tel Aviv to comply with international law in order to prevent further escalation.
A number of countries have collectively protested Israel’s seizure of the West Bank, deeming the move a violation of international law.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Foreign Ministry, as reported by Al Arabiya on Monday (16 February), condemned Israel’s latest move to further consolidate control over the West Bank, stating it aimed to “impose new legal and administrative realities on the occupied West Bank”.
According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Tel Aviv’s move “undermines ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region”.
“Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated firmly in its response.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed its “absolute rejection of these illegal measures, which constitute grave violations of international law, undermine the two-state solution, and represent an assault on the legitimate right of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent sovereign state within the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital”.
Egypt
The Egyptian government, in its statement, condemned Israel’s move as “a dangerous escalation aimed at consolidating Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory”.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry separately described Tel Aviv’s action as “a flagrant violation” of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2334 of 2016.
Qatar
Qatar, in a statement through its Foreign Ministry, condemned “the decision to convert West Bank land into so-called ‘state property’” as it constituted “an extension of illegal plans to strip the Palestinian people of their rights”.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry emphasised the need for international solidarity to pressure Israel into halting the move, in order to “avoid its serious consequences”.
Jordan
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s decision “in the strongest possible terms”, describing it as “a flagrant violation of international law”.
Turkey
Further condemnation came from Turkey, which denounced the move as an attempt to impose Israeli authority over the West Bank and expand settlement activities.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry declared the move “null and void” and stressed that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory. Ankara criticised Israel’s expansionist policies in the West Bank, which it said were undermining ongoing peace efforts and damaging the prospects of a two-state solution.
A number of foreign ministers from Muslim-majority nations, including Indonesia, also condemned Israel’s annexation. The statement was delivered by foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority countries on Monday (9 February) local time.
“The Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkey strongly condemn Israel’s illegal decisions and actions aimed at imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty, strengthening settlement activities, and enforcing new legal and administrative realities in the occupied West Bank,” the joint statement read.
The foreign ministers of the Arab and Muslim-majority nations stated that Israel’s measures were “accelerating efforts towards illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people” in the West Bank.
“They reaffirm that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory,” the joint statement stressed.
In their statement, the foreign ministers warned Israel against pursuing its expansionist policies and illegal actions in the West Bank.
“This triggers violence and conflict in the region,” the joint statement said.