Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has condemned US statements which considered the annexation of occupied lands in the West Bank an Israeli decision. He said these statements acknowledge and legitimize the occupation in violation of the principles of the international law that do not allow seizing lands by force. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was an Israeli decision whether to annex parts of the West Bank, confirming that the Washington will inform the new Israeli government about its stance over the issue. “As for the annexation of the West Bank, the Israelis will ultimately make those decisions,” Pompeo told reporters. “That’s an Israeli decision. And we will work closely with them to share with them our views of this in (a) private setting.” An official source at the AL General Secretariat has quoted Aboul Gheit as saying that the new Israeli government’s approaches threaten to ignite regional tension. He stressed that the occupation authority is taking advantage of the global preoccupation with facing the coronavirus pandemic to impose a new reality on ground. Aboul Gheit also called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and send a clear message to the new Israeli government on the seriousness of its plans and their consequences that would affect regional security and stability. According to the source, Aboul Gheit sent letters to the UN Secretary-General, foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council, Germany and the High Representative for the EU foreign affairs, during which he warned of the dangers of Israel’s policies. Meanwhile, the Palestinian state on Thursday called on the AL General Secretariat to hold an emergency virtual meeting at the level of foreign ministers, to discuss measures that should be taken against the annexation plans. In a statement, the Permanent Delegation of Palestine to the Arab League has requested a meeting to discuss Pompeo’s statements, which encourage the far-right government in Israel to persist in its aggressive policy of confiscating more Palestinian lands and building settlements. Palestines permanent representative to the Arab League Diab al-Louh said the implementation of Israel’s plot contradicts with the relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention, violates the international law and disregards international peace references.