Abu dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday strongly condemned recent statements by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin calling for Israel to extend sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, labeling them 'provocative and unacceptable.'
According to Anadolu Agency, Levin made the comments during a meeting on July 2 with settlement leader Yossi Dagan, where he stated, 'The time for sovereignty has come,' as reported by the Times of Israel. In response, the UAE Foreign Ministry issued an official statement describing Levin's remarks as 'a serious escalation and a blatant violation of resolutions on international legitimacy.'
The UAE's statement emphasized its 'categorical rejection of all provocative statements and measures aimed at altering the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' Abu Dhabi also highlighted 'the need to support all regional and international efforts to advance the peace process in the Middle East and end illegal practices that undermine the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.'
The ministry reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to 'reinforcing peace and justice, and safeguarding the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.' As of the end of 2024, approximately 770,000 illegal Israeli settlers resided in the West Bank, spread across 180 settlements and 256 outposts, with 138 classified as agricultural or pastoral, according to Palestinian reports.
Israeli government data indicate that illegal settlers conducted 414 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank in the first half of this year, reflecting a 30% increase from 2024. Since the onset of Israel's assault on Gaza in October 2023, at least 57,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, with 1,000 killed and 7,000 wounded in the West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
In addition, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal last July and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.