Spain and some twenty other countries condemn Israel’s latest decisions to “illegally control” the West Bank

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and his counterparts from 18 other countries condemned on Monday, "in the strongest terms," Israel's recent decisions to extend "illegal Israeli control over the West Bank." In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Spain, Brazil, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Egypt, Jordan, Luxembourg, Norway, the State of Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Turkey, along with the secretaries-general of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemned "in the strongest terms" these decisions, which "reclassify Palestinian lands as Israeli 'state lands,' accelerate illegal settlement activity, and further consolidate Israeli administration." On February 8, the Israeli government decided to repeal the law that limits property acquisition and registration in the West Bank, as well as the administrative measures that grant it jurisdiction over violations of water management regulations, environmental damage, and damage to archaeological sites in Areas A and B. A week later, Benjamin Netanyahu's government approved the registration of large areas of the West Bank as "state property." These decisions were adopted at the suggestion of Finance Minister and ultranationalist leader Bezalel Smotrich; Justice Minister Yariv Levin; and Defense Minister Israel Katz. "It is clear that Israel's illegal settlements and the decisions intended to promote them constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including previous UN Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice," the text warns. These decisions are part of a clear trajectory aimed at changing the reality on the ground and promoting an unacceptable de facto annexation,” undermine “ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, including the 20-Point Plan for Gaza,” and threaten “any relevant prospects for regional integration,” it continues. Therefore, “we urge the Government of Israel to revoke them immediately, respect its international obligations, and refrain from taking any measures that would lead to permanent changes in the legal and administrative status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” The statement recalls that these decisions come after “the unprecedented acceleration of Israel’s settlement policy, with the approval of the E1 project and the publication of its tender.” “Such actions constitute a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution,” it warns. “We reiterate our rejection of all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. We oppose any form of annexation,” the signatory countries stated. “In view of the alarming escalation of violence in the West Bank,” the declaration also urges Israel “to put an end to settler violence against Palestinians, including by holding those responsible accountable,” and reaffirms the commitment of the signatory countries “to take concrete steps, in accordance with international law, to combat the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestinian territory and the policies and threats of forced displacement and annexation.” “In the holy month of Ramadan, we also emphasize the importance of preserving the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Holy Sites, recognizing the special role played in this regard by the Hashemite Custody,” it continued. “We condemn the repeated violations of the status quo in Jerusalem, which constitute a threat to regional stability,” the statement warns. The ministers also call on Israel to “immediately” release the tax revenue withheld from the Palestinian Authority and warn that “this revenue must be transferred to the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the Paris Protocol, and is vital for the provision of basic services to the Palestinian population in Gaza and the West Bank.” “We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant United Nations resolutions,” and starting “from the borders of June 4, 1967,” the joint statement continues. “As reflected in the New York Declaration, ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential for regional peace, stability, and integration,” and in this regard, “only through the creation of an independent, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state can coexistence among the peoples and states of the region be achieved,” it concludes.

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