- Web Desk
- 17 Minutes ago
Dar blasts Greater Israel plan, calls for two-state solution
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- Web Desk
- Aug 25, 2025
JEDDAH: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday described the “Greater Israel” plan being promoted by the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as unacceptable and said Pakistan supports territorial integrity and sovereignty of Arab states.
Read more: ‘Greater Israel’: Arabs denounce Netanyahu, Saudis reject ‘colonisation’
At the same time, he also made it clear that the two-state solution was the only option and said Pakistan stood for establishment of a Palestinian state based upon the pre-1967 war borders.
“The brazen audacity of the so-called Israeli Cabinet, in unveiling its ominous plan to extend Israel’s full military control over Gaza as well as the Israeli prime minister’s recent allusion to the creation of a ‘Greater Israel’ provide an insight into Israel’s annexationist and rogue mindset,” Dar said in his address to the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).
Read more: Dar to advocate the case for Palestinian state
In this connection, he added that Netanyahu’s statement “constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security”.
“We fully stand by our brotherly Arab states in safeguarding their sovereignty against threats to their independence and territorial integrity,” said Dar who is a cabinet member being the foreign minister.
He also explained Pakistan’s long-standing stance.
“As the Prime Minister of Pakistan has unequivocally stated: ‘the root cause of this ongoing tragedy is Israel’s prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.’ As long as this occupation endures, peace will remain elusive”.
TWO-STATE SOLUTION
In his address, the deputy prime minister also pressed the case for the two-state solution and welcomed the recent moves to achieve the goal set in the Oslo Accords, which has not been pursued seriously.
“Pakistan also welcomes the growing international momentum in support of the Palestinian statehood and full membership of the UN. We urge those states that have yet to recognise the State of Palestine to do so as soon as they can.”
He also mentioned the recent International Conference on the Two-State Solution.
“We appreciate the convening of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, on 28 of July this year. I personally participated in the conference.”
Read more: ‘No alternative’ to two-state solution: France
But Dar made it clear that there was an urgent need to “do more”. In this connection, he reiterated Islamabad’s long-standing policy.
Read more: Israel approves West Bank settlement project despite opposition
“It did create a positive momentum. But we need to do more. It must now be followed up by coordinated international action to realise the long-overdue settlement, based on a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif [Jerusalem] as its capital.”
GRAVEYARD OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
About the prevailing situation in Gaza where the Palestinians are facing genocide, the deputy prime minister said it had become a graveyard of international law.
Read more: UN declares famine in Gaza due to Israel’s systematic blockage of aid
“Gaza has become a graveyard for innocent lives as well as for the international law, particularly the International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Over 60,000 Palestinians – most of them women and children – have been killed in Israel’s brutal military assault.”
In this connection, he highlighted how the civic infrastructure had been destroyed in a systematic manner.
“The systematic targeting of hospitals, schools, UN facilities, aid convoys and refugee camps are not incidental, these are wanton acts of collective punishment in full world view.”
Read more: Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital kill 19, including four journalists
To argue his case, Dar also mentioned the Israel-made famine in Gaza.
“The so-called humanitarian system put in place by the occupying power is a cruel illusion. Famine is rampant. Civilians are being shot trying to collect food. The hunger crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented and deeply alarming levels.”
ONGOING GENOCIDE
On the sidelines of the OIC meeting, Dar also met his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, as both sides sides discussed a host of issues — from regional to bilateral.
“We discussed the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the ongoing genocide, famine and the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, reconstruction, and lasting peace.”
REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
Separately, Dar also held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Among other issues, regional peace and security remained a focus of the two leaders.
“Recalling the recent high level exchanges including the recent visit of the President of Iran to Pakistan, we reaffirmed the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Iran. We also exchanged views on peace and security in the region and beyond,” said Dar.
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