JAKARTA - Indonesia along with eight Islamic countries and the majority of Muslims condemned Israel's move to plan to establish occupied land in the West Bank, Palestine as 'state land'
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the decision issued by Israel to designate land in the occupied West Bank as so-called "state land" and approve a procedure for registration and settlement of land ownership in large areas of the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967.
"This illegal step is a serious escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activities, land confiscation, strengthening Israeli control, and applying Israel's illegal sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," the joint statement said in a tweet from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, Tuesday (17/2).
The Israeli government has approved plans to claim most of the occupied West Bank as "state property" if Palestinians cannot prove ownership.
Israeli media Kan reported on Sunday that the proposal was submitted by Israeli Defense Minister Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Justice Minister Yariv Levin.
The Ministers of Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, and United Arab Emirates strongly condemn the decision issued by Israel to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as so called "state land" and approve procedures for the registration and…
— MoFA Indonesia (@Kemlu_RI) February 17, 2026
Quoted from Al Jazeera, Smotrich said the move was a continuation of the "settlement revolution to control all our land".
Meanwhile, Levin called it an expression of the Israeli government's commitment "to strengthen its grip on all its territories".
The decision paves the way for the resumption of the "land ownership settlement" process, which has been frozen since Israel's occupation of the West Bank in 1967.
The Foreign Ministers stressed that Israel's actions were a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as a violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2334.
"This decision is also contrary to the opinion of the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which underlines the illegality of actions intended to change the legal, historical and demographic status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the obligation to end the occupation, and the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force," the joint statement said.
"This step reflects an effort to impose a new legal and administrative reality designed to consolidate control over the occupied land, thereby weakening the two-state solution, eroding the prospects for the establishment of a viable and viable Palestinian state, and jeopardizing the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in the region," the statement continued.
In this statement, "the ministers reiterated their firm rejection of all unilateral actions aimed at changing the legal, demographic and historical status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory."
The foreign ministers also stressed that the policy is a dangerous escalation that will further increase tensions and instability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the region as a whole.
The ministers also called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to stop these violations, ensure respect for international law, and protect the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to self-determination, end the occupation, and establish their independent and sovereign State in accordance with the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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