OIC rejects ‘deal of century’ for Palestine
JEDDAH, Feb 3, (KUNA): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday stressed the rejection of the US Middle East peace plan, dubbed “the deal of the century”, as it does not meet the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This came in the final statement of OIC’s executive committee meeting at the level of foreign ministers held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, to discuss the consequences of this plan in the Middle East.
The committee called on all OIC member states not to deal with this plan or to cooperate with the US administration over implementing it.
It also affirmed rejection of any plan, deal or initiative submitted by any party to a peaceful settlement that is not consistent with the legal and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with international law, UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.
Peace and security in the Middle East will only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation and completely withdrawing from State of Palestine, including Al-Quds and the rest of the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, the committee said.
It will also be achieved by empowering the Palestinian people to get their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination and sovereignty over all its lands, it added.
The US plan lacks the simplest elements of justice such as the right to national independence, return of refugees, and it even legitimizes colonialism.
The final statement also called on the US administration to abide by the agreed legal and international references to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
It also held the Israeli occupation responsible for deterioration because of its denial of the agreements, continuing policy of colonialism, settlement, racism and ethnic cleansing practiced against the Palestinian people.
OIC warned the Israeli occupation against taking any step to consolidate its occupation, and called the international community to confront all these measures.
The committee affirmed its commitment to stand with the Palestinian people and its sole legitimate representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization and with President Mahmoud Abbas to face any plot targeting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The committee pointed to the importance of the Palestinian political initiative presented by President Abbas before the UN Security Council in Feb 2018, calling for an international peace conference and forming a multilateral international mechanism to relaunch a meaningful political process based on international law within a clear timetable.
Kuwait highly appreciates the international community’s efforts to find a solution to the Middle East conflict, its foreign minister said on Monday, describing the “Palestinian cause” as the Muslim world’s chief concern.
The misery the Palestinians have had to withstand amid a conflict that has raged on for more than half a century is unspeakable, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah told a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) executive committee at the level of foreign ministers.
Fresh off similar talks involving the foreign ministers of Arab League member states last week, he lamented the fact that an end to the plight of the Palestinians remains elusive, emphasizing that an independent state of Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital remains the ultimate goal.
Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Youssef Al-Othaimeen Monday restated his support to a Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 border with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Addressing a meeting of the OIC’s executive committee at the level of foreign ministers held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Al-Othaimeen underlined that it is essential to commit to solutions centered on relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
“The OIC backs any international effort to resolve the Palestinian cause, leading to comprehensive peace that ensures the just and legal rights of the Palestinian people,” he added.
The OIC reaffirmed that the largest Muslim bloc gives top priority to the Palestinian cause.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan called on all OIC member states to throw much weight behind the Palestinian people, emphasizing that Palestine would unquestionably remain the central case of all Muslim nations.
“The OIC member states are now more required than ever to show solidarity with the Palestinian people,” he said during the meeting held to consider the recently announced US Middle East peace plan.