Regional powers warn Israeli settlement expansion risks accelerating illegal annexation
Fresh Israeli policy moves in the occupied West Bank have triggered swift condemnation from key Muslim-majority nations, heightening regional and international concern over the future of Palestinian territories and the viability of a two-state solution.
Strong Regional Condemnation
Saudi Arabia and seven other Muslim-majority countries on Feb 9 strongly condemned new Israeli measures aimed at tightening control over the occupied West Bank. The joint response followed Israel’s approval of the policies a day earlier, drawing sharp criticism over what regional leaders described as unlawful actions that undermine international law.
Details of the Israeli Measures
The measures, announced on Feb 8 by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, allow Jewish Israelis to purchase land in the West Bank. They also include shifting authority over settlement building permits in parts of Palestinian cities, including Hebron, from Palestinian municipalities to Israeli control.
Warnings of Illegal Annexation
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey said the measures amount to an attempt to impose unlawful Israeli sovereignty. In a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement, they warned the policies would entrench settlement activity, accelerate illegal annexation, and displace Palestinian communities.
Palestinian Authority Response
The Palestinian presidency in Ramallah, which governs limited areas of the West Bank, also condemned the move. Officials said the decision was designed to deepen Israel’s annexation efforts and further erode Palestinian self-governance in already fragmented territories.
Israeli Government Position
Minister Smotrich defended the policy shift, stating it was intended to deepen Israeli presence across what he referred to as the Land of Israel and to eliminate the prospect of a Palestinian state. His remarks reinforced concerns among critics that the measures mark a decisive turn away from negotiated solutions.
International Context and Demographics
The announcement comes ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to the United States, where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump, who has maintained US opposition to West Bank annexation. Currently, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law, alongside around three million Palestinians. An additional 200,000 Israelis reside in East Jerusalem, which the United Nations considers part of the Palestinian territories.
The latest Israeli measures risk reshaping the legal and political landscape of the West Bank at a critical diplomatic moment. For Indonesia, Singapore, and the wider region, the developments underscore growing instability in the Middle East and raise renewed questions about the future of international law, regional security, and prospects for a lasting peace.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Al Jazeera (2026)
Keywords: Israeli Settlements, West Bank Control, Palestinian Territories, Muslim Countries Response
