The UAE and 7 Arab and Islamic countries condemn settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank

The Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar condemn in the strongest terms the continued and escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including the recent attacks on the Grand Mosque in the village of Jaljaliya, and the Al-Farouq Mosque in the village of Mazara’ al-Nubani, north of Ramallah. They stress that these attacks constitute a clear violation of the sanctity of places of worship and religious sites, and of international law, including international humanitarian law, and relevant United Nations resolutions.

The Ministers affirm their absolute rejection of these reprehensible attacks committed by Israeli settlers, as well as the continuation of unilateral and illegal Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territory, which fuel instability, violence and extremism, and undermine international efforts aimed at achieving peace.

The Ministers hold Israel, the occupying power, responsible for these attacks.

The Ministers renew their call on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, and oblige Israel to stop its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, end its illegal practices, stop settler violence, hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable, and ensure that they do not escape punishment.

The Foreign Ministers reaffirm their firm solidarity with the Palestinian people, and their steadfast support for fulfilling their legitimate and inalienable national rights, foremost of which is their right to self-determination, and the embodiment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They also reaffirm their support for all efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, based on the two-state solution, and in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.