Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE condemn 'greater Israel' map

Arab nations denounce expansionist provocations amid escalating regional tensions.

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Gulf countries, including Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, have strongly condemned an Israeli map published on official social media accounts that asserts "historical territorial rights" over Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry labelled the map a "flagrant violation of international legitimacy resolutions" and warned that such provocations undermine peace efforts, especially amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict.

The ministry urged the international community to pressure Israel into adhering to international law and abandoning its expansionist policies.

The UAE also criticised the map, calling it "a deliberate effort to expand the occupation" and a "blatant contravention of international law."

Officials emphasised the need to end practices that threaten peace and reiterated support for a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry joined the chorus of condemnation, accusing Israel of "entrenching its occupation" and violating state sovereignty.

The Kingdom called on global powers to address Israeli actions and support efforts to resolve regional crises through dialogue and respect for borders.

The Israeli map has sparked widespread backlash, with Jordan and Palestine joining Gulf nations in their denunciation.

The controversy follows similar statements by far-right Israeli leaders, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who in March 2023 stood beside a map depicting "greater Israel" including parts of Jordan.

Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese territories continues to draw international criticism, with calls for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.