A growing group of nearly 20 countries has openly criticized Israel’s latest actions in the occupied West Bank, saying the moves risk effectively annexing the territory and eroding hopes for a future Palestinian state.
This past month, Israel’s government — with support from several far‑right political leaders — approved a set of new measures. These include beginning a process to classify West Bank land as “state property” and allowing Israeli citizens to buy land there directly.
In a joint statement, representatives from 18 countries — mostly in Europe or from Muslim‑majority regions — said these actions point to “a clear trajectory” toward changing the realities on the ground and advancing an unacceptable form of annexation.
They added that such policies are “a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian state and the implementation of the two‑state solution.”
Among the governments that signed the statement were influential players like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, European nations including France and Spain, and countries such as Indonesia, Brazil and Turkey. The declaration also received support from the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Palestinian Authority.
The West Bank, under Israeli control since 1967, is home to roughly three million Palestinians. More than half a million Israeli settlers live in settlements and outposts there — communities that international law regards as illegal.
Under the current Israeli government, settlement expansion has accelerated, with a record approval of 52 new settlements in 2025 alone, raising concerns that the possibility of an independent Palestinian state could slip further out of reach.
As diplomatic pressure mounts, world leaders are calling for renewed efforts toward peace, respect for legal norms, and meaningful dialogue that upholds both Palestinian rights and regional stability.
