Nearly 20 Countries Condemn Israel’s Judea and Samaria Measures as ‘De Facto Annexation’

by | Feb 24, 2026 | News

Nearly 20 countries issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s recent actions in the West Bank, warning they amount to a move toward de facto annexation.

The statement criticized changes to land registration and property acquisition policies approved earlier this month by Israel’s security cabinet, saying the measures threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state and undermine the two-state solution.

Among the signatories were Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, and Indonesia, along with regional and international organizations including the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly supported the policy, saying its purpose is to block the creation of a Palestinian state. Supporters of the move argue it strengthens Israel’s claims to disputed territory.

The statement follows a similar declaration released two weeks earlier, shortly after the cabinet decision was announced.

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