Israel Blocks Arab Ministers' West Bank Ramallah Visit Amid Palestinian Statehood Push

Israel blocked a scheduled June 1 visit by an Arab-Islamic ministerial delegation to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, preventing the ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and others from entering. Israel's government described the planned meeting, which aimed to promote Palestinian statehood, as provocative and a security threat, warning that such a state would become a terrorist entity. The delegation postponed the visit and instead held a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling for renewed peace efforts and condemning Israel’s blockade and military actions in Gaza. Jordan's Foreign Minister highlighted Israel's actions as undermining the two-state solution and urged the international community to act to end the Gaza war. The visit's blockage comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s announcement of significant West Bank settlement expansions, which the international community widely opposes as illegal and a barrier to peace. An international conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France is planned in New York to discuss Palestinian statehood and revive peace talks.