Following recent developments in the West Bank, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad H. Mansour, held a press conference today on behalf of the Arab Group to condemn the unilateral expansion of Israel’s presence in the Palestinian Territories.
Ambassador Mansour reiterated the Group’s firm opposition to any form of annexation of the West Bank, stressing that Israel’s unilateral decisions violate the country’s obligations under international law and undermine ongoing international efforts for peace and stability in the region.
The statements were supported, among others, by a large majority of European countries — Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Greece and Finland — as well as by the Delegation of the European Union and other like-minded states, including Canada and Japan.
Italy’s participation in the Palestinian initiative confirms the country’s commitment to international law and to condemning any measures liable to jeopardise the two-State solution.
The text of the statement is provided below.
We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful presence in the West Bank. Such decisions are contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed. We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation.
We reiterate our rejection of all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. Such measures violate international law, undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, run counter to the Comprehensive Plan, and jeopardize the prospect of reaching a peace agreement ending the conflict.
We reaffirm our commitment reflected in the New York Declaration to take concrete measures, in accordance with international law, and in line with the relevant UN resolutions and the 19 July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, to help realize the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to counter the illegal settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation.
We reiterate that just and lasting peace on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and implementing the two-State solution, where two democratic States, an independent and sovereign Palestine and Israel, live side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders on the basis of the 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, remains the only path to ensure security and stability in the region.
