The Arab League (AL), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and 10 Arab, Islamic countries on Thursday strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset's approval of a motion calling for the imposition of so-called "Israeli sovereignty" over the occupied West Bank.
In a joint statement, they considered the Israeli move as a "a flagrant breach" of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions which affirm the invalidity of all measures and decisions seeking to legitimize the occupation, including settlement activities in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.
The AL, OIC, as well as Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory, according to the statement.
The statement stressed that the unilateral Israeli move has no legal basis and cannot alter the legal status of the occupied land.
The Israeli actions only fuel the growing tension in the region, which has been exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe there, it added.
They called on the international community to take urgent actions to halt Israel's illegal policies that undermine the prospects for a just and lasting peace in the region.
The statement also reaffirmed these parties' commitment to the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On Wednesday, the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, approved a non-binding motion in favor of annexing the West Bank.
Arab countries, int'l bodies condemn Israel's decision to annex occupied West Bank
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
