Baghdad: The Israeli parliament move to annex the occupied West Bank violates international law and is considered null and void: The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s recent vote on draft laws aimed at annexing the occupied West Bank. The ministry described the move as “a blatant violation of international law and null and void.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the ministry issued a statement on Wednesday asserting that this provocative action threatens the already fragile security and stability in the region, especially as efforts to achieve peace in Gaza are ongoing. The statement emphasized that the West Bank, including East Quds, has been Palestinian territory under Israeli occupation since 1967.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs further affirmed its rejection of any attempts to impose an illegal fait accompli and called on the international community to prevent Israel from advancing its annexation plans. The ministry underlined Turkey’s commitment to defending the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and supporting efforts to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Quds as its capital.

The statement follows recent developments in the Israeli Knesset, where a preliminary reading of a draft law submitted by MK Avi Maoz of the right-wing Noam Party was approved. This draft law calls for the annexation of the West Bank and received 25 votes in favor and 24 against. The bill is now set to be referred to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further discussion before its first reading.

Additionally, the Knesset passed another draft law, submitted by Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the ‘Yisrael Beiteinu’ party, which calls for the annexation of the Ma’ale Adumim settlement east of al-Quds. This measure passed with 32 votes in favor and 9 opposed.

It is important to note that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Quds, in 1967 is widely viewed as a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law.