The recent assertion by the United States Ambassador to Israel that Israel possesses a “Biblical right” to control the entirety of the Middle East represents a troubling fusion of theology with contemporary statecraft. Modern international order is founded not on scriptural claims, but on the sovereign equality of states, the prohibition of territorial acquisition by force, and the right of peoples to self-determination. The UN Charter (Article 2(4)) explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. No contemporary legal doctrine recognizes religious entitlement as a valid basis for annexation or regional dominance.
Invoking sacred text to justify geopolitical expansion not only undermines international law but also destabilizes a region already marked by decades of unresolved conflict.
International Law and the Status of Occupied Territories
Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and has maintained control over Gaza’s borders, airspace, and maritime access. The international community through repeated UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions has affirmed that the acquisition of territory by war is inadmissible. UN Security call for withdrawal from occupied territories and a negotiated settlement.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its 2004 advisory opinion, declared the construction of Israeli settlements and the separation barrier in occupied territory contrary to international law. As of 2023, more than 700,000 Israeli settlers reside in the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements widely regarded as violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory.
These are not matters of political rhetoric; they are matters of established legal record.
Humanitarian Impact and Civilian Casualties
The humanitarian toll of the conflict has been staggering. According to figures reported by international agencies and humanitarian monitors, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in recent hostilities since October 2023, including a significant proportion of women and children. Civilian infrastructure, hospitals, schools, water systems, and residential neighborhoods has sustained widespread destruction.
For decades, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented patterns of forced displacement, home demolitions, administrative detention, and restrictions on movement affecting millions of Palestinians. Whether one frames the issue as occupation, blockade, or protracted conflict, the civilian cost is undeniable and deeply troubling.
No claim of religious entitlement can override humanitarian law or absolve the responsibility to protect civilian life.
Historical Complexity
Moreover, portraying Israel as having a “right” to dominate the region is inconsistent with historical evidence. The region’s identity, culture, and governance structures have been shaped by Muslim and Arab civilizations for centuries. Attempts to legitimize Israeli control over these territories erase the historical record and negate the legitimate rights of millions of Palestinians to their land, culture, and political self-determination.
From a strategic perspective, such rhetoric fuels instability and undermines the prospects for peace. Repeated cycles of occupation, collective punishment, and civilian targeting have created enduring grievances, radicalization, and conflict, making peace impossible under a narrative that ignores Palestinian rights. Any effort to frame Israeli expansion as a “Biblical right” is therefore not only legally baseless but morally indefensible.
Response by Muslim and Arab Nations
The statements have provoked a unified and strong condemnation from fourteen Islamic and Arab nations, including Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The joint communiqué, further endorsed by the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), characterized the remarks as both dangerous and inflammatory, directly violating the principles of international law and the UN Charter. The statement underscored that Israel holds no sovereignty over any occupied Palestinian territory or Arab land, and any attempt to legitimize annexation, settlement expansion, or the division of the West Bank from Gaza would constitute a serious breach of regional stability and international norms.
The joint declaration further highlighted the inconsistency of the Ambassador’s remarks with the stated vision of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, which aimed at reducing tensions and creating a comprehensive political framework for resolving the Gaza conflict. By undermining the recognized rights of the Palestinian people and disregarding Arab state sovereignty, such statements risk exacerbating regional instability and inflaming existing conflicts. The communiqué reaffirmed the inalienable right of Palestinians to self-determination and emphasized the establishment of an independent state within the June 4, 1967 borders, alongside the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Arab territories.
Saudi Arabia’s separate statement reinforced this position, warning that irresponsible remarks of this nature could escalate tensions and reaffirming its unwavering support for Palestinian sovereignty and the protection of Arab states’ territorial integrity.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Ambassador himself today claimed that “negative propaganda and conspiracy theories” are being spread by accounts based in Pakistan and Türkiye. Such accusations are both baseless and audacious, deflecting attention from Israel’s documented human rights violations and occupation policies. Rather than deflecting responsibility, the Ambassador’s comments further expose U.S. negligence in addressing Palestinian rights and regional sovereignty, reinforcing the perception of an institutional bias that threatens to inflame an already volatile Middle East.
In conclusion, Israel’s control over Palestinian and Arab lands is illegitimate, and any claim to a “right” to occupy is factually, historically, and legally unsupportable. The international community must recognize that the Middle East is the heritage of its native peoples, that Israel’s actions constitute crimes against humanity, and that peace in the region can only be achieved through the restoration of Palestinian sovereignty, adherence to international law, and respect for the rights of indigenous populations.
Middle East Sovereignty Non-Negotiable: Historical and Legal Facts Denounce Israel’s Expansionist Claims
The recent assertion by the United States Ambassador to Israel that Israel possesses a “Biblical right” to control the entirety of the Middle East represents a troubling fusion of theology with contemporary statecraft. Modern international order is founded not on scriptural claims, but on the sovereign equality of states, the prohibition of territorial acquisition by force, and the right of peoples to self-determination. The UN Charter (Article 2(4)) explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. No contemporary legal doctrine recognizes religious entitlement as a valid basis for annexation or regional dominance.
Invoking sacred text to justify geopolitical expansion not only undermines international law but also destabilizes a region already marked by decades of unresolved conflict.
International Law and the Status of Occupied Territories
Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and has maintained control over Gaza’s borders, airspace, and maritime access. The international community through repeated UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions has affirmed that the acquisition of territory by war is inadmissible. UN Security call for withdrawal from occupied territories and a negotiated settlement.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its 2004 advisory opinion, declared the construction of Israeli settlements and the separation barrier in occupied territory contrary to international law. As of 2023, more than 700,000 Israeli settlers reside in the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements widely regarded as violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory.
These are not matters of political rhetoric; they are matters of established legal record.
Humanitarian Impact and Civilian Casualties
The humanitarian toll of the conflict has been staggering. According to figures reported by international agencies and humanitarian monitors, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in recent hostilities since October 2023, including a significant proportion of women and children. Civilian infrastructure, hospitals, schools, water systems, and residential neighborhoods has sustained widespread destruction.
For decades, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented patterns of forced displacement, home demolitions, administrative detention, and restrictions on movement affecting millions of Palestinians. Whether one frames the issue as occupation, blockade, or protracted conflict, the civilian cost is undeniable and deeply troubling.
No claim of religious entitlement can override humanitarian law or absolve the responsibility to protect civilian life.
Historical Complexity
Moreover, portraying Israel as having a “right” to dominate the region is inconsistent with historical evidence. The region’s identity, culture, and governance structures have been shaped by Muslim and Arab civilizations for centuries. Attempts to legitimize Israeli control over these territories erase the historical record and negate the legitimate rights of millions of Palestinians to their land, culture, and political self-determination.
From a strategic perspective, such rhetoric fuels instability and undermines the prospects for peace. Repeated cycles of occupation, collective punishment, and civilian targeting have created enduring grievances, radicalization, and conflict, making peace impossible under a narrative that ignores Palestinian rights. Any effort to frame Israeli expansion as a “Biblical right” is therefore not only legally baseless but morally indefensible.
Response by Muslim and Arab Nations
The statements have provoked a unified and strong condemnation from fourteen Islamic and Arab nations, including Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The joint communiqué, further endorsed by the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), characterized the remarks as both dangerous and inflammatory, directly violating the principles of international law and the UN Charter. The statement underscored that Israel holds no sovereignty over any occupied Palestinian territory or Arab land, and any attempt to legitimize annexation, settlement expansion, or the division of the West Bank from Gaza would constitute a serious breach of regional stability and international norms.
The joint declaration further highlighted the inconsistency of the Ambassador’s remarks with the stated vision of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, which aimed at reducing tensions and creating a comprehensive political framework for resolving the Gaza conflict. By undermining the recognized rights of the Palestinian people and disregarding Arab state sovereignty, such statements risk exacerbating regional instability and inflaming existing conflicts. The communiqué reaffirmed the inalienable right of Palestinians to self-determination and emphasized the establishment of an independent state within the June 4, 1967 borders, alongside the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Arab territories.
Saudi Arabia’s separate statement reinforced this position, warning that irresponsible remarks of this nature could escalate tensions and reaffirming its unwavering support for Palestinian sovereignty and the protection of Arab states’ territorial integrity.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Ambassador himself today claimed that “negative propaganda and conspiracy theories” are being spread by accounts based in Pakistan and Türkiye. Such accusations are both baseless and audacious, deflecting attention from Israel’s documented human rights violations and occupation policies. Rather than deflecting responsibility, the Ambassador’s comments further expose U.S. negligence in addressing Palestinian rights and regional sovereignty, reinforcing the perception of an institutional bias that threatens to inflame an already volatile Middle East.
In conclusion, Israel’s control over Palestinian and Arab lands is illegitimate, and any claim to a “right” to occupy is factually, historically, and legally unsupportable. The international community must recognize that the Middle East is the heritage of its native peoples, that Israel’s actions constitute crimes against humanity, and that peace in the region can only be achieved through the restoration of Palestinian sovereignty, adherence to international law, and respect for the rights of indigenous populations.
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