The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will announce its decision on the legal consequences of Israel’s practices in the Palestinian occupied territories on Friday, July 19. In a statement to the Israeli parliament, far-right Minister Smotrich called on Netanyahu to advocate the annexation of the occupied West Bank if the UAE declares Jewish settlements that usurp Palestinian lands “illegal.”
Smotrich also said he would work to prevent the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestinian lands and the establishment of a Palestinian state. There are 451,000 Israelis in the occupied West Bank and approximately 230,000 in Jerusalem who are usurping Palestinian lands. According to international law, these usurpations in the West Bank and Jerusalem are considered illegal.
Since October 7, 2023, 574 Palestinians have been martyred in the attacks of occupying Israeli soldiers and Israelis who have usurped Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
