Organization for Islamic Cooperation Condemns Israeli Approval of New Settlements

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has issued a statement condemning the Israeli government’s approval of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The OIC described the decision as a “flagrant violation of international law.” According to reports, the approval was made secretly by the Israeli government in early April.

The Palestinian Presidency’s office also condemned the plan, stating that it is a “violation of international law.” The OIC general secretariat stated that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that all its measures aimed at changing the geographic and demographic reality there are null and void under international law.

This decision comes on top of 68 settlements approved since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government took power in 2022. The OIC warned of the gravity of Israel’s settlement policies, land confiscation, settler terrorism, and attempts to annex the occupied West Bank. These actions aim to undermine the two-state solution and violate the rights of the Palestinian people.

Turkiye also criticized Israel’s approval of the new settlements, calling it a “serious violation of international law and UN resolutions.” The approved sites include locations within Palestinian neighborhoods in the northern West Bank and remote areas rarely reached by Israeli forces. Ten of the 34 settlements are already existing outposts, which will now be retroactively legalized under the decision.

The OIC’s statement highlights the ongoing concerns about Israel’s settlement policies and their impact on the occupied territory. The approved sites include both new and existing settlements, with some being located within Palestinian neighborhoods. The Israeli government has not officially published its decision, but it is reported that military chief Eyal Zamir warned during a recent security cabinet meeting that the army could “collapse” due to increasing demands on its manpower.

The approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank is a contentious issue, with many rights groups and international organizations criticizing Israel’s actions as a violation of international law.

Source: Al Jazeera