Jerusalem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – After media reports that Arab ministers who were scheduled to participate had been prevented from traveling, an Israeli official stated on Saturday that Israel would not permit a planned gathering in the occupied West Bank’s Ramallah, the Palestinian administrative capital, to proceed, Reuters reported.
Several media reports confirm that a planned meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank, was scheduled.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was set to lead the delegation, marking the highest-level Saudi visit to the West Bank since Israel’s occupation in 1967.
Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates were among the delegation, according to Palestinian Authority officials. Israeli clearance would be required for the ministers to travel from Jordan to the West Bank.
The action comes ahead of an international gathering on Palestinian statehood that will conduct in New York City from June 17–20 and be co-chaired by KSA and Paris.
Why did Israel block the Ramallah ministers’ meeting?
According to an Israeli official, the ministers planned to participate in “a provocative session” to talk about advocating for the creation of a Palestinian state.
“Such if a state were to become a terrorist state in the heart of the country Israel,” warned the source. “Israel will not cooperate with such moves intended to harm it and its security.” The question of whether the conference in Ramallah could proceed was being discussed, according to a Palestinian Authority official.
Is European pressure on Israel gaining real traction?
The United Nations and European nations that support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—in which Israel and an independent Palestinian state coexist—have increased their pressure on Israel.
With the protracted battle in Gaza and rising tensions in the occupied West Bank, European pressure on Israel has escalated dramatically. In addition to strongly denouncing Israel’s military activities, settlement growth, and policies against Palestinians, the European Union (EU) and a number of its member states are also thinking about taking practical steps to change Israel’s conduct.
