Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the Israeli government’s latest attempts to convert parts of the occupied West Bank into state property and expand illegal settlements, the Foreign Office Pakistan said. The move violates international law and undermines prospects for a just, lasting peace. Islamabad urged the international community to take concrete steps to uphold legal norms.
The FO statement said Israel’s actions contravene United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and must be rejected by the global community. It warned that such provocative steps exacerbate tensions and make a negotiated settlement between Palestinians and Israelis increasingly difficult.
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The announcement follows Israeli cabinet approval of measures making it easier for settlers to acquire land in the West Bank. Palestinians described the decision as a “de-facto annexation,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views any Palestinian state as a security threat. His coalition includes members who openly support annexation of territories captured in 1967.
Pakistan reiterated its full support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and called for an independent, contiguous state of Palestine along pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The FO emphasized that Israel must respect international law and end actions that violate Palestinian rights.
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The statement concluded with a call for the international community to hold Israel accountable and end impunity in the occupied territories. Pakistan stressed that global action is essential to ensure peace, security, and a fair resolution of the Palestinian issue.