Amman: Jordan and Qatar have jointly condemned Israel's decision to designate land in the occupied West Bank as 'state property,' labeling the move a 'flagrant violation' of international law and an attempt to annex Palestinian territory. The decision, they argue, unlawfully infringes on the rights of the Palestinian people.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli decision poses a significant threat to the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, as emphasized in a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. The ministry declared that such actions undermine efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Jordan's Foreign Ministry further rejected any Israeli attempts to impose sovereignty over the West Bank, categorizing them as breaches of international law. The ministry called for the international community to fulfill its legal and moral obligations by urging Israel to halt its unilateral measures in the region.
The United Nations and the international community generally regard the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as occupied territory and view Israeli settlements there as illegal under international law.
Similarly, Qatar's Foreign Ministry expressed strong disapproval of Israel's actions, describing them as part of an unlawful plan to deprive Palestinians of their rights. The ministry called for international solidarity and urged global intervention to prevent the implementation of Israel's decision.
Qatar reiterated its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Israeli government's recent approval of a proposal to register large areas of the West Bank as 'state property' marks the first such measure since the territory was occupied in 1967. This decision is part of a broader strategy by Israel's Security Cabinet to expand settlement building and tighten control over the West Bank.
Under the Oslo II Accord of 1995, Areas A and B of the West Bank are under varying degrees of Palestinian control, while Area C remains fully under Israeli control. The accord restricts land registration to Areas A and B, prohibiting it in Area C.
Israeli media reports indicate that new measures include repealing a law preventing land sales to Israeli settlers, unsealing land ownership records, and transferring building permit authority near Hebron from Palestinian to Israeli control.
Israel has increased its activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, amidst its military operations in Gaza. Palestinians view these actions as steps toward formal annexation of the territory.
In a significant ruling in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.