Arab ministers criticise Israel for blocking visit to West Bank

The foreign ministers of five Arab countries who had planned to visit the occupied West Bank this weekend have condemned Israel's decision to block their plans.

In a joint statement released by Jordan's Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the delegation described Israel’s move as "a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power".

The ministers had planned to visit Ramallah and meet President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials. The delegation, including foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, had been expected to take part alongside Turkey.

"[The decision] reflects the arrogance of the Israeli government, its disregard for international law and its continued illegal practices and policies that besiege the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate leadership, entrench the occupation and undermine prospects for a just and comprehensive peace," the statement added.

Israel's move will further escalate tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the country's Arab neighbours.

US President Donald Trump made the inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords, agreements to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab countries, a top foreign policy priority. However, Israel’s move shows how far that goal remains from being achieved.

"The committee has decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah due to Israel’s obstruction, as it refused to allow the delegation to enter through the airspace over the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel," the Foreign Ministry statement read.

Commenting on that, Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Varsen Aghabekian, told The National on Saturday: "I don’t think this comes as a shock to anybody. Israel has been following the exclusion policy for decades and is failing to understand that it needs to integrate in the region."

Most of the countries reportedly scheduled to visit Ramallah had normalised ties with Israel. The fact that even these are not being allowed in is "very telling and impedes further normalisation", the minister said.

She noted that by not letting these countries visit - even to discuss peace - Israel is further propagating the idea that it does not wish to comply "with anyone" and would continue its aggression against the Palestinians.