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Arab ministers condemn Israel's 'arrogant' ban on West Bank visit

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 01 June 2025 10:43 AM

The foreign ministers of several Arab countries have strongly criticized Israel's decision to prevent their planned visit to the occupied West Bank, describing it as an "arrogant" move.

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Turkey led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan were planned to arrive in Ramallah on Sunday to meet Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting would have been the highest-level Saudi visit to the area since it was occupied by Israel in 1967.

However, on Friday the Israeli regime announced that it will "not cooperate" with plans from the PA to host the Saudi-led delegation.

In a joint statement, the ministers said the decision to block the visit "reflects the extent of the Israeli government's arrogance, its disregard for international law, and its continued illegitimate measures and policies that besiege the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate leadership."

The ministers added that Israel was seeking to perpetuate "the occupation and undermine the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace."

Hussein Al Sheikh, the deputy chair of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said in a post on X that Israel's decision is a "dangerous escalation that reflects arrogant, provocative, and unprecedented behavior."

"We are examining, along with our Arab brothers, how to respond to this decision," he wrote.

Last month, Israeli forces opened fire near a diplomatic convoy near Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, triggering an international outcry.

The convoy included diplomats from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Russia and China. The Israeli military claimed its soldiers fired "warning shots" after the group deviated from an agreed-upon route.

The Israeli regime's decision to ban the Arab ministers comes ahead of an international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood.

The Israeli regime has come under increasing pressure from the international community for its genocidal actions in Gaza and the construction of new illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank.