Arab Nations Warn Israel’s Settlement Expansion Threatens Palestinian Statehood

Arab states on Monday strongly criticized Israel’s decision to expand settlement activity and widen its authority across the occupied West Bank, warning that the move undermines international law and the prospects of a Palestinian state.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE were among regional countries condemning the decision, which was approved by Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday. Egypt, Turkey, and other Muslim-majority states also joined in, describing the measures as illegal and destabilizing.

Israeli ministers said the changes would make it easier for Jewish settlers to buy land in the West Bank and would expand Israeli enforcement powers into areas that, under existing agreements, fall under Palestinian control. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in Israel’s far-right coalition, said the government would “continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state.”

The measures include scrapping restrictions on land registration and removing permit requirements that previously limited purchases. Critics say this effectively normalizes Israeli civilian activity in occupied territory. Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog, said the decisions amount to a step toward annexation and could lead to more demolitions of Palestinian property.

Under the 1993 Oslo accords, the West Bank was divided into Areas A, B, and C, with varying levels of Palestinian and Israeli control. The latest changes could allow Israeli authorities to operate more freely across all areas, including those meant for Palestinian administration.

Arab states said the move entrenches settlement expansion, displaces Palestinians, and threatens regional stability. Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal and supports a two-state solution, with the territory forming the core of a future Palestinian state.