Emergency Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on West Bank Settlement Expansion

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has announced an emergency meeting at the ministerial level scheduled for next Thursday. This gathering will focus on the recent decisions made by the Israeli regime regarding the expansion of settlements and the annexation plans in the West Bank.

According to a statement from the organization’s secretariat, the meeting is convened at the request of a member state. Its primary aim is to coordinate the positions of member countries and explore strategies for collective action against measures that alter the legal, political, and demographic status of occupied territories, thereby undermining the principle of a two-state solution.

During this meeting, foreign ministers will discuss countering the Israeli authorities’ decision to initiate the annexation process of lands in the West Bank, referred to as ‘state properties.’ This action is part of alleged plans to assert sovereignty over the occupied territories.On February 8 the Israeli government approved a series of decisions aimed at changing the legal and civil status of the West Bank reinforcing control over the region. These decisions have prompted widespread reactions from Arab nations with several countries viewing them as a precursor to the practical annexation of Palestinian lands and a move contrary to efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive political solution.