Pakistan, Arab nations denounce US envoy’s remarks on Israeli control of Arab territories

Pakistan and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries have condemned recent remarks by the United States Ambassador to Israel suggesting that Israel could exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, along with the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), voiced strong concern over the comments.

The statement termed the remarks “dangerous and inflammatory,” saying they represent a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter and threaten regional security and stability.

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The participating countries said the comments run counter to diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and a comprehensive political settlement of the Gaza conflict, including proposals that envision the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Reaffirming their position, the ministers said Israel holds no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands.

They categorically rejected any attempt to annex the West Bank, separate it from Gaza, or expand settlement activity in the occupied territories.

The joint statement warned that continued expansionist policies and such public statements risk escalating tensions and undermining peace efforts in the region.

The countries reaffirmed their commitment to the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to the creation of an independent state based on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders, calling for an end to the occupation of all Arab lands.