Newsletters
Türkiye strongly rejected statements by Israeli ministers and politicians calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, denouncing them as violations of international law.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a written statement rejecting Israeli officials' annexation calls in the strongest terms.
"We strongly reject the statements made by Israeli ministers and politicians regarding the annexation of the West Bank. Such remarks are a clear indication of Israel's illegal settlement policies under international law and its efforts to make the occupation permanent," the ministry said.
The Foreign Ministry highlighted that these "irresponsible annexation calls" during ongoing cease-fire efforts disregard the solution principles adopted by the international community for many years.
"It is evident that systematic interventions in Palestinian territories and the practices aimed at displacing the Palestinian people further deepen the fragility in the region," the ministry stated.
Türkiye reiterated that establishing lasting peace, mutual trust, and stability in the Middle East requires recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people by stating: "We once again emphasize that lasting peace, mutual trust, and stability in the Middle East require the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
Fourteen ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party called on the premier to immediately annex the occupied West Bank in a letter sent Wednesday evening.
The letter, shared by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, demanded the government "apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (West Bank) before the end of the Knesset summer session," which concludes July 27.
The ministers argued that the current "strategic partnership and backing and support of the US and President Donald Trump create a favorable time to lead this move (annexation) now."
Among the signatories were the ministers of defense, economy, agriculture, energy, communications, transportation, justice, tourism, innovation, culture, diaspora affairs, education, social equality, regional cooperation, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The letter warned that recognizing settlement blocs while establishing a Palestinian state on the remaining land poses an "existential threat to Israel."
Jordan's Foreign Ministry condemned "in the strongest terms" what it called "dangerous statements" made by Israeli government members.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced "the Israeli occupation official's call to impose sovereignty over the West Bank territories in Palestine," labeling it a breach of international resolutions.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry categorically rejected the Israeli calls for annexing the West Bank, calling them "a clear violation of international law aimed at entrenching the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories."
The U.S. State Department said it stands by Israel and its security decisions after senior Israeli ministers called for West Bank annexation, while sidestepping questions on whether the Trump administration supports a two-state solution.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, "Our position regarding Israel, the choices it makes, is that we stand with Israel and its decisions and how it views its own internal security."
1 min read
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East War and has accelerated its settlement activities since the start of its war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
According to Palestinian figures, at least 988 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and illegal settlers since October 2023.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal last July and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
1 min read
