Abu Dhabi – The United Arab Emirates has issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli Knesset’s preliminary approval of two draft laws seeking to impose Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank and legalize control over settlements deemed illegal under international law.

In an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the UAE described the move as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of international legitimacy resolutions.” The statement emphasized that such unilateral actions undermine efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region and threaten the stability of the broader Middle East.

The UAE reaffirmed its categorical rejection of any measures aimed at altering the legal and historical status of the occupied Palestinian territories, and called on the international community to take urgent steps to halt the legislative process and protect the rights of the Palestinian people.

The condemnation was part of a joint declaration issued by more than a dozen Arab and Islamic countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Indonesia, as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The coalition urged Israel to respect international law and resume negotiations based on the two-state solution.

The Israeli bills, which passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset earlier this week, have sparked widespread criticism from global actors and human rights organizations. If enacted, they would formalize Israeli jurisdiction over large swaths of the West Bank, further complicating the prospects for Palestinian statehood.