LBCI

Arab states criticize Israel as it expands powers in occupied West Bank

Middle East News

09-02-2026 | 11:36

Share

Share

Arab states criticize Israel as it expands powers in occupied West Bank

Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates led regional states on Monday in condemning Israel's move to ease settlement expansion and widen its powers in the West Bank, a step critics said went in the direction of annexing occupied land.

Sunday's decisions by Israel's security cabinet will make it easier for Jewish settlers to buy land in the West Bank and give Israeli authorities more power to act in areas supposedly under full Palestinian control, two senior Israeli ministers said.

One of them, ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, said in announcing the decisions that the government would "continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state."

A joint statement by foreign ministers of Middle Eastern and some other Muslim countries, including Egypt and Turkey, denounced the decisions as a violation of international law that would undermine the vision of a two-state solution as well as stability in the region.

Reuters

Middle East News

Arab

Israel

Occupied

West Bank

Next

Netanyahu-Trump talks near: Israel expands Lebanon attacks while seeking US green light on Iran

Iran ready to dilute highly enriched uranium if all sanctions lifted: Nuclear chief

Previous

Recommended For You

UN nuclear watchdog urges 'maximum restraint' after Iran says strike hit Bushehr plant

Middle East News

16:48

UN nuclear watchdog urges 'maximum restraint' after Iran says strike hit Bushehr plant

Israel's military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon, Defense Minister says

16:40

Israel's military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon, Defense Minister says

Iraq to summon US charge d'affaires, Iran ambassador over strikes: Statement

Middle East News

16:23

Iraq to summon US charge d'affaires, Iran ambassador over strikes: Statement

Iran says US and Israel attacked area near Bushehr nuclear power plant

Middle East News

15:43

Iran says US and Israel attacked area near Bushehr nuclear power plant

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

US war on Iran 'unabated' as Trump mulls diplomacy: White House

Middle East News

14:27

US war on Iran 'unabated' as Trump mulls diplomacy: White House

Hezbollah condemns Lebanese foreign ministry decision against Iranian ambassador

12:26

Hezbollah condemns Lebanese foreign ministry decision against Iranian ambassador

President Aoun says Lebanon cannot fight others’ wars on its territory

11:00

President Aoun says Lebanon cannot fight others’ wars on its territory

UN rights council will meet Wednesday on Iran's Gulf attacks

Middle East News

06:13

UN rights council will meet Wednesday on Iran's Gulf attacks

Videos

At least 19 killed after strike destroys three-story building in Sir el-Gharbiyeh: Video

2026-03-08

At least 19 killed after strike destroys three-story building in Sir el-Gharbiyeh: Video

Israeli airstrike targets Beirut’s southern suburbs: Video

2026-03-06

Israeli airstrike targets Beirut’s southern suburbs: Video

Intense consecutive airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs: Video

2026-03-05

Intense consecutive airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs: Video

Israeli army launches evening airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after evacuation warning

2026-03-05

Israeli army launches evening airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after evacuation warning

Smoke rises over Beirut’s southern suburbs as Israel targets area: Video

2026-03-02

Smoke rises over Beirut’s southern suburbs as Israel targets area: Video

German President Steinmeier meets Lebanon's President Aoun at Baabda Palace—Video

2026-02-16

German President Steinmeier meets Lebanon's President Aoun at Baabda Palace—Video

Future Movement supporters mark Rafic Hariri anniversary, call for Saad Hariri's return to politics

2026-02-14

Future Movement supporters mark Rafic Hariri anniversary, call for Saad Hariri's return to politics

Israel strikes vehicle in Doueir-Wadi Aaba in South Lebanon—Video

2026-02-01

Israel strikes vehicle in Doueir-Wadi Aaba in South Lebanon—Video

Berri halts live broadcast amid parliament salary dispute

2026-01-29

Berri halts live broadcast amid parliament salary dispute

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Missile explodes mid-air, debris falls over Kesserwan with no strikes reported

1

Missile explodes mid-air, debris falls over Kesserwan with no strikes reported

Explosion heard in Sahel Alma, cause unknown

2

Explosion heard in Sahel Alma, cause unknown

Israeli Channel 12: US official says Iranian missile that fell in Lebanon may have been intended for Cyprus

3

Israeli Channel 12: US official says Iranian missile that fell in Lebanon may have been intended for Cyprus

Iranian missile intercepted over Lebanese airspace for first time by foreign warship, sources told Reuters

4

Iranian missile intercepted over Lebanese airspace for first time by foreign warship, sources told Reuters

Lebanon revokes accreditation of Iran's appointed ambassador, orders departure by March 29

5

Lebanon revokes accreditation of Iran's appointed ambassador, orders departure by March 29

Lebanon says withdrawal of accreditation for Iranian ambassador does not sever ties with Iran

6

Lebanon says withdrawal of accreditation for Iranian ambassador does not sever ties with Iran

Hezbollah condemns Lebanese foreign ministry decision against Iranian ambassador

7

Hezbollah condemns Lebanese foreign ministry decision against Iranian ambassador

Israeli army says it killed Iran's Quds Force member in Beirut strike

8

Israeli army says it killed Iran's Quds Force member in Beirut strike

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More