Jerusalem – Arab countries and organizations condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound 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, Jordan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the League of Islamic Cooperation, amid Palestine’s condemnation in two statements by the Authority and Hamas of this escalation.
On Thursday morning, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) voted by a majority in favor of a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. This resolution was submitted by the right-wing opposition party, the “Official Right,” and 68 members of parliament voted in favor of it, while 9 out of 120 members of parliament voted once morest it.
** Widespread condemnation
In a statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia expressed “the Kingdom’s rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Israeli official, and the adoption by the Israeli Knesset of a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
The Kingdom stressed that “these ongoing and hostile practices towards Islamic sanctities, international systems and resolutions, express the aggressive approach of the Israeli occupation authorities.”
She stressed that “these practices prevent any progress aimed at stopping the bloodshed of innocent people and achieving a just and comprehensive peace.”
Qatar also condemned, in a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Ben Gvir’s storming and the Knesset’s decision, warning once morest “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 on more than two billion Muslims around the world.”
In a related context, Kuwait condemned the Israeli incursion and decision in a statement by the Foreign Ministry, stressing that this “represents a blatant violation of international legitimacy resolutions and a disregard 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 once morest the Palestinian people.”
** “Irresponsible escalation”
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt condemned Ben Gvir’s storming of the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Knesset’s passing of a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, stressing that this is “a clear evasion of international legitimacy resolutions and the references of the peace process.”
She pointed out the “danger of what these measures represent in terms of irresponsible escalation,” noting that Tel Aviv “insists on inflaming emotions and increasing tension and congestion, not only among the Palestinian people, but also among Islamic peoples and the entire world.”
It also called on “the active international parties in the international community to assume their responsibilities in protecting Palestinian rights, respecting Islamic and Christian sanctities, and putting an end to the repeated Israeli violations.”
Jordan also condemned, in a statement by the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Knesset vote, considering it “a new and serious violation of international law and a persistent challenge to the international community.”
** New “violation”
At the level of the bodies, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed in a statement its strong condemnation of the Knesset’s decision, considering it “a continuation of the colonial occupation policies.”
The organization also condemned Ben Gvir’s storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and called on all countries that have not recognized the State of Palestine to do so and support its right to full membership in the United Nations.
In a related context, the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the Knesset’s decision in a statement, stressing that it is “a clear violation of international and UN resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, and an affirmation of Israel’s insistence on fueling 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, Ben Gvir’s storming and the Knesset’s decision, describing both matters as a “crime.”
Earlier, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas condemned the Israeli Knesset vote in separate statements.
The Palestinian presidency responded to the Knesset decision in a statement, stressing 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 “null and void decision issued by an occupying party that has no legitimacy on Palestinian land.”
** Raids and escalation
Since 2003, the Israeli police have allowed settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the Islamic Waqf Department rejects and calls for it to be stopped. Ben-Gvir’s storming is the fifth since he assumed his position in late 2022.
The raid and the Knesset decision come at a time when Israel, with American support, has been waging a war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, leaving more than 128,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing.
Coinciding 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 killing of 576 Palestinians, the injury of 5,350, and the arrest of 9,700, according to official Palestinian sources.
During the Israeli war on Gaza, Armenia, Slovenia, Spain, Norway and Ireland officially recognized Palestine, bringing the number of countries recognizing it to 149 out of 193 countries in the United Nations.
Anatolia
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2024-07-19 16:19:57
