The foreign ministries of Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt expressed this Wednesday their "satisfaction" with the United Kingdom's decision to veto trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and conveyed "their hope" that this measure will encourage the international community to "adopt similar measures and demand accountability."
This was made known by the foreign ministers of these eight predominantly Muslim countries through a joint statement, in which they indicate that they "welcome" the British government's decision "to prohibit the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and impose restrictions on services linked to those settlements."
The text adds that "Furthermore, they express their hope that this decision will help mobilize the international community to adopt similar measures, in accordance with International Law, and demand accountability from the organizations and individuals involved in illegal settlement activities." In this way, the signatories call for other states to follow the same line as London regarding the settlements.
In the same note, the ministers also expressed their "satisfaction" with the recent declaration in support of the two-state solution for the Palestinian conflict, signed by Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, "in which they confirm their intention to introduce national restrictions and/or support European restrictions on the trade of goods with illegal settlements (...) or to actively consider these and other measures."
After emphasizing that these initiatives "are in line with International Law," the foreign ministers wanted to "reiterate their call to Israel to revoke all measures taken regarding settlement activities, as well as other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory." In this regard, they insist that Israeli colonization policy violates international norms.
At the same time, and taking advantage of the international focus on the settlements of settlers in the West Bank, the signing ministers have wanted to "emphasize that Gaza is an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory," reminding that it cannot be dissociated from the general Palestinian issue. In light of this situation, they request "the full and immediate implementation of the comprehensive plan" of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, "to end the conflict in Gaza, ensure security and stability, address the humanitarian situation, facilitate reconstruction and recovery, and lay the foundations for lasting peace."
To conclude, the heads of diplomacy of these eight countries reaffirm that "The only viable route to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace is the implementation of the two-State solution, through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, contiguous, and viable Palestinian State, based on the borders of June 4, 1967, and with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with International Law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations." With this, they insist that any solution to the conflict must respect the borders prior to 1967 and the status of East Jerusalem.