E-Paper
Sign In
Saudi strongly condemns Israel's approval of settlement building around Jerusalem
An Israeli minister said that work would start on a long-delayed settlement, a move his office said would 'bury' the idea of a Palestinian state
- PUBLISHED: Fri 15 Aug 2025, 11:36 AM
Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Israel's approval of plans to build settlements around Jerusalem, saying that it represents a continuation of "the illegal expansionist policies of the Israeli government".
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Friday that work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state.
Recommended For You
"Whoever in the world is trying to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighbourhoods," Smotrich said.
Many countries, including Australia and Britain, plan to recognise the Palestinian state during next month's United Nations General Assembly.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
In a statement run by the Kingdom's state press agency (SPA), Saudi asserted that such actions are "violations of international law, the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their sovereign state".
It added that the action also violates relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2234 (2016), which demands that Israel cease settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, including east Jerusalem, affirms the illegality of Israel’s settlement construction in the territory occupied since 1967.
"Israel's behavior requires the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities to provide protection for the Palestinian people, meet their legitimate rights—including recognition of the Palestinian state," it stated.
Condemning statements by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, Saudi said that these comments highlight "the Israeli government's obstruction of the peace option, and its serious threat to the possibility of a two-state solution".
