Doha, Qatar – Fifteen Arab and Islamic countries have issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli Knesset’s recent approval of two controversial laws designed to extend Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and its illegal settlements. The collective declaration denounced the move as a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the region.
The statement, which was released late Thursday, underscored that the laws represent a dangerous escalation that undermines the two-state solution and entrenches occupation policies long deemed illegal by the United Nations. The countries urged the international community to take “decisive action” to prevent further annexation and to hold Israel accountable for what they described as attempts to “change the demographic and legal status” of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Notably, Somalia—long recognized for its vocal and consistent support for the Palestinian cause—was not among the fifteen signatories. While no official reason has been given for its absence, observers view it as a surprising omission given Mogadishu’s historical alignment with Arab and Muslim nations on the issue of Palestine.
The condemned legislation, recently passed by the Israeli parliament, aims to integrate settlements in the West Bank more closely with Israel’s administrative and legal framework. Critics warn that the move could pave the way for formal annexation, further isolating Palestinians and deepening tensions across the region.
The joint statement reaffirmed unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for immediate international pressure to reverse the Israeli measures. It also emphasized the need to revive peace negotiations based on established international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
For many across the Arab and Islamic world, the Knesset’s decision marks yet another chapter in the long struggle for Palestinian statehood—one that continues to test regional unity and global resolve.