Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia led the Islamic world's condemnation of Israeli attacks on the Palestinian territories causing death and destruction during an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Chairing the meeting to discuss Israeli attacks in Palestine, especially in Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan accused Israel of committing flagrant violations against the Palestinians, calling for an immediate end to the Israeli escalation in Palestine.

"Saudi Arabia announces its total rejection and strong condemnation of the provocative Israeli plans or measures aimed at forcibly evicting Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem and all military actions that have caused civilian deaths, including innocent children and women, he said.

The Saudi foreign minister said that the Israeli actions undermine the prospects of resuming the peace process and the means for implementing the Arab Peace Initiative as well as all international efforts aimed at achieving security, safety and stability in the region.

Prince Faisal said: “Saudi Arabia on behalf of the OIC, calls on the international community and all international human rights bodies and organizations to shoulder their responsibilities in addressing the issue,” stressing that the dangerous escalation that violates all international norms and regulations, adding that preserving the sanctity of Jerusalem and the lives of the innocent people are the responsibility of all of us.

In his regard, the Kingdom calls on the international community to take urgent action to immediately stop military operations, bring in aid and treat the wounded, and work to revive negotiations based on adherence to peace on the basis of the two-state solution, the Saudi foreign minister added.

Prince Faisal also said Saudi Arabia supports all efforts aimed at a ceasefire, including those of Egypt and Jordan.

He said that Islam calls for peace, and we were and still are advocates of peace, and King Salman confirmed this in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly last year in which the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said: “Peace is our strategic choice, and our duty is to spare no effort to work together toward achieving a bright future amid peace, stability, prosperity and coexistence among all peoples of the region. King Salman also said Saudi Arabia supports all efforts aimed at advancing the peace process to end the Arab-Israeli conflict and to ensure Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, foremost among which is the establishment of their independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Prince Farhan added that Saudi Arabia wishes to confirm that its continued support for the Palestinian people stems from its deep belief in the importance of a just cause, and calls once again for the need for international efforts to join hands and intensify them to stop the dangerous escalation immediately.

Speaking after the Saudi foreign minister, OIC Secretary-General Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen denounced the Israeli actions.

He said that evicting the Palestinians from their homes and denying them their legitimate rights does not serve the peace process, but rather fuels sincere attempts to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution.

Prince Faisal said: "We are meeting today in light of critical Palestinian circumstances to exchange opinion, advice and measures to confront the Israeli attacks in the Palestinian territories, especially in Jerusalem, and the aggressive acts carried out by Israel in the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque violating its sanctity."

Al-Othaimeen affirmed the OIC’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, and backed the establishment of their state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the outcomes of the Arab Peace Initiative and the UN resolutions based on the two-state solution.

Speaking at the meeting, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki called on the foreign ministers of the OIC to form an international front to deal vigorously with the Israeli crimes and escalation against the Palestinian people, including action in the UN Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly, and the Human Rights Council.

AL-Maliki termed the Israeli actions as an assault on Arabs, Muslims and international norms.

The Palestinian minister said: "We are open to working with you and the international community in order to support the steadfastness of our people, thwart a conspiracy to undermine their rights, and to activate UN decisions, decisions of the OIC and joint action through the organization's ambassadors, in addition to the need for rapid action by proposed by Morocco."

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser A-Sabah said Israel’s crimes in East Jerusalem are a violation of all international humanitarian laws.

Israeli escalation threatens the security and stability of the region, he added.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi condemned Israel’s forced eviction of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem, saying it constitutes a “war crime.”