By Shams Ahsan

Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman opened the 14th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) here ‪on Friday evening urging Muslim leaders to combine efforts to combat terrorism and its financiers.

The King said the OIC is meeting in the backdrop of sabotage of four vessels in the territorial waters of the UAE and drone attacks on Saudi oil pumping stations.

"The attacks on oil installations are not only against Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but on the whole world," King Salman stressed, adding that terrorist Houthi militias backed by Iran were involved in the attack on oil installations.

The drone attacks threaten maritime safety and global oil supplies, the King said, adding that the sabotage operations against four vessels, which included two Saudi oil tankers, represent a dangerous threat against maritime safety, as well as regional and international security.

The King reiterated that the Palestinian cause — the core issue behind the formation of the OIC 50 years ago — is a priority until Palestinians get their rights.

The King said: "On the 50th anniversary of the founding of the OIC, we recall that the organization was formed in the wake of the burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is still under occupation and is subject to systematic attacks.”

King Salman stressed: “The Palestinian cause is the basic pillar for the deliberations of the OIC and it is the main focus of our attention until the Palestinian people get their legitimate rights guaranteed by the UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.”

We reiterate our categorical rejection of any measures that will infringe on the historical and legal status of Al-Quds Al-Shareef (Jerusalem), the King emphasized.

"We refuse any measures that touch the historical and legal position of East Jerusalem," the King said.

Speaking on the need for collective efforts to combat terror, the King said: “Extremism and terror are among the most serious menaces the Muslim Ummah and the whole world are facing. We must join efforts to combat terror, expose its supporters, and dry up its sources of financing by all available means.”

The King also touched upon another important issue — that of the displaced people, saying, "It is painful to see that Muslims make the biggest percentage of displaced people in the world.”

From this standpoint, the Kingdom has been and will continue to provide humanitarian and relief aid due to its keenness on the sovereignty, security and stability of the Muslim countries, the King said.

King Salman said that the Kingdom has been and continues to seek common grounds with the Islamic world.

The King lauded the restructuring of the OIC, and developing and reforming its various sections.

Addressing the gathering, OIC Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen said the OIC condemns the terrorist attacks conducted by Iran-backed Houthis.

Commenting on the Palestinian cause, he said, "We reject any action that infringes on the historical and legal status of East Jerusalem. The OIC insists on the historic rights of Palestinians and on the two-state solution."

The OIC summit, which follows Arab and GCC summits, is titled “Makkah Summit: Together for the Future."

It aims at developing a unified stance on events in the Islamic world with focus on the Palestinian issue, Islamophobia, extremism and terrorism, and the situation of Muslims around the world.