Arab condemnations of the storming of Al-Aqsa and the Knesset’s refusal to establish a Palestinian state

Arab countries and organizations condemned the storming of the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, coinciding with the Knesset passing a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

This came in official statements issued by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and Jordan, in addition to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Islamic Cooperation League, amid Palestine’s condemnation of that escalation in two statements by the Authority and the Hamas movement.

At dawn on Thursday, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) voted by a majority in favor of a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. This resolution was presented by the right-wing opposition “Official Right” party, and 68 deputies voted in favor of it and 9 of the 120 deputies opposed it.

Widespread condemnation

In a statement to the Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia expressed “the Kingdom’s rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Israeli official, and the Israeli Knesset’s adoption of a resolution stating the rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

The Kingdom affirmed that “these continuing and hostile practices towards Islamic holy sites and international regulations and resolutions express the aggressive approach of the Israeli occupation authorities.”
She stressed that “these practices prevent any progress aimed at saving the blood of innocent people and achieving just and comprehensive peace.”

Qatar also condemned, in a Foreign Ministry statement, the storming of Ben Gvir and the Knesset’s decision, warning against “the continuation of the escalatory policy adopted by the Israeli government in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

She stressed that “the repeated attempts to undermine the religious and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque are not only an attack on the Palestinians, but also on more than two billion Muslims around the world.”

In a related context, Kuwait condemned, in a Foreign Ministry statement, the intrusion and the Israeli decision, stressing that this “represents a blatant violation of international legitimacy resolutions and a disdain for the efforts made by the international community to revive the peace process in the Middle East and the two-state solution.”

She called on “the international community to move towards putting an end to the series of violations and war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.”

Irresponsible escalation

In a Foreign Ministry statement, Egypt condemned Ben Ghafir’s storming of the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Knesset’s passing of a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, stressing that this was “a clear repudiation of the decisions of international legitimacy and the terms of reference of the peace process.”

She pointed out “the seriousness of the irresponsible escalation that these measures represent,” noting that Tel Aviv “insists on inflaming feelings and increasing tension and tension, not only among the Palestinian people, but among the Islamic peoples and in the entire world.”

It also called on “active international parties in the international community to carry out their responsibilities to protect Palestinian rights, respect Islamic and Christian sanctities, and put an end to repeated Israeli violations.”
Jordan also condemned, in a Foreign Ministry statement, the Israeli Knesset vote, considering it “a new and dangerous violation of international law and a further challenge to the international community.”

New “violation”.

At the level of bodies, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed in a statement its strong condemnation of the Knesset’s decision, considering it “an intensification of the policies of colonial occupation.”

The organization also condemned Bin Ghafir’s storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and called on all countries that did not recognize the State of Palestine to do so and support their right to full membership in the United Nations.

In a related context, the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned, in a statement, the Knesset’s decision, stressing that it is “a clear violation of international and UN resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, and a confirmation of (Israel’s) insistence on inciting tension and threatening security and stability in the region and the world.”

The Muslim World League also condemned, in a statement in the strongest terms, the storming of Ben Gvir and the Knesset’s decision, and described the two matters as a “crime.”

Earlier, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, in two separate statements, condemned the Israeli Knesset vote.

The Palestinian presidency responded to the Knesset’s decision in a statement, affirming that “no peace or security will be achieved for anyone without the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy,” while Hamas considered it a decision “invalid and issued by an occupying party that has no legitimacy on Palestinian land.”

Incursions and escalation

Since 2003, the Israeli police have allowed settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the Islamic Endowments Department rejects and calls for it to stop. Ben Gvir’s storming is the fifth since he took office in late 2022.

The storming and the Knesset’s decision come at a time when Israel, with American support, has been waging a war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, which has left more than 128,000 Palestinians martyred and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing.

In conjunction with its war on Gaza, the Israeli army and settlers escalated their attacks in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which led to the death of 576 Palestinians, the injury of 5,350, and the arrest of 9,700, according to official Palestinian authorities.

During the Israeli war on Gaza, Armenia, Slovenia, Spain, Norway, and Ireland officially announced their recognition of Palestine, raising the number of countries recognizing it to 149 out of 193 countries in the United Nations Assembly.

(Anatolia)